Canadian court on Padma graft allegation

The verdict of the Canadian court must be quickly communicated to the international media so as to recover from the damage that had been incurred in the last six years or so

Finally, a court in Canada has delivered a verdict by clearing two former officials of Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin and a Bangladeshi-Canadian businessman of bribery charges. The contention surrounding the financing and constructing of Padma Bridge has been freed from being a stigmatised project. The World Bank withdrew its funding from the bridge project in the wake of the bribery allegations. Later, the Bangladesh government decided to construct the bridge on self funding. However, the bribery allegation in many ways had tarnished the country’s international image. Moreover, it also resulted in a negative media exposure of the government to the rest of the world. 
Once completed, the 6.15 km bridge will establish direct road communication between Dhaka and 21 southern districts of the country. It will have a railroad as well. The Tk 230 billion project is the largest ever self-financed project taken up by Bangladesh.
A justice of the Ontario Superior Court — the day before yesterday — has brought an end to this unrelenting bone of contention by concluding that nothing that could fairly be referred to as direct factual evidence, to support the rumour and speculation, was provided or investigated. The information provided by the tipsters was hearsay added to other hearsay. The decision came after the Crown attorney elected not to call any witnesses at the trial following the judge’s decision to exclude wiretap evidence. Though a big relief for the government and the country, but the Canadian verdict must be quickly spread and communicated to the international media houses so as to recover from the damage that had been incurred in the last six years or so. 
The World Bank owes an explanation to all stakeholders for its actions. After the verdict it is quite clear that WB suspended the aid that was to come from it for the building of the Padma Bridge on rather flimsy grounds. World Bank was repeatedly asked by Bangladeshi authorities to give proof regarding its allegations but it chose not to respond. 
Accusations of bribery launched by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) also should have thoroughly been investigated to validate the credentials and credibility of the informants, since the case, in general, clearly involved and questioned the bureaucratic integrity of Bangladesh. That said it was particularly convincing to have seen the World Bank to have taken the verdict seriously. 

 

Canadian court on Padma graft allegation

The verdict of the Canadian court must be quickly communicated to the international media so as to recover from the damage that had been incurred in the last six years or so

Finally, a court in Canada has delivered a verdict by clearing two former officials of Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin and a Bangladeshi-Canadian businessman of bribery charges. The contention surrounding the financing and constructing of Padma Bridge has been freed from being a stigmatised project. The World Bank withdrew its funding from the bridge project in the wake of the bribery allegations. Later, the Bangladesh government decided to construct the bridge on self funding. However, the bribery allegation in many ways had tarnished the countrys international image. Moreover, it also resulted in a negative media exposure of the government to the rest of the world. Once completed, the 6.15 km bridge will establish direct road communication between Dhaka and 21 southern districts of the country. It will have a railroad as well. The Tk 230 billion project is the largest ever self-financed project taken up by Bangladesh. A justice of the Ontario Superior Court the day before yesterday has brought an end to this unrelenting bone of contention by concluding that nothing that could fairly be referred to as direct factual evidence, to support the rumour and speculation, was provided or investigated. The information provided by the tipsters was hearsay added to other hearsay. The decision came after the Crown attorney elected not to call any witnesses at the trial following the judges decision to exclude wiretap evidence. Though a big relief for the government and the country, but the Canadian verdict must be quickly spread and communicated to the international media houses so as to recover from the damage that had been incurred in the last six years or so. The World Bank owes an explanation to all stakeholders for its actions. After the verdict it is quite clear that WB suspended the aid that was to come from it for the building of the Padma Bridge on rather flimsy grounds. World Bank was repeatedly asked by Bangladeshi authorities to give proof regarding its allegations but it chose not to respond. Accusations of bribery launched by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) also should have thoroughly been investigated to validate the credentials and credibility of the informants, since the case, in general, clearly involved and questioned the bureaucratic integrity of Bangladesh. That said it was particularly convincing to have seen the World Bank to have taken the verdict seriously.