Sue WB for false Padma allegation

Ministers, MPs urge victims as JS sees intense discussion

Several ministers and lawmakers yesterday came down heavily on the World Bank (WB) for the false allegation of corruption in the Padma Bridge Project, saying that the multilateral lending agency should be sued and others involved should offer apology to the prime minister. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq was among those who took a hard-line stance and called upon all who got victimized by the false allegation to file a case against the WB. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, JSD lawmaker Moin Uddin Khan Badal, Jatiya Party MP Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu also demanded filing of a case against those who made the allegations in a bid to undermine the nation's image.
"After the recent verdict of Canadian court, it has been proved that there was no corruption in Padma Bridge Project. The attempt to disgrace us as a nation, has failed. A graft case has been filed with an European court against Okampa, who himself tried to take the charge of investigation into the said graft," Huq said at a freshers' reception at Mirpur in the capital. Answering a question whether Bangladesh has suffered because of that false allegation of the World Bank, the law minister said it was actually a blessing in disguise.
"As a result of their (World Bank) withdrawal of funding from the project, we have made two benefits -- we need not to pay any interest and also we have proved that we can carry out such a big project by our own funding. All these were possible because of the firmness of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Huq added.
The issue also witnessed an intense and unscheduled lively discussion in parliament as it resumed the sitting at 4:49pm with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Parliament members both from the treasury and opposition benches described the allegation of Padma Bridge scam as a plot against a sovereign country and its people to undermine the image of the present government.
Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Firoj Rashid initiated the discussion immediately after the chair tabled one-hour question-answer session slated for ministers.
The Jatiya Party lawmaker was followed by veteran Awami League leader and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Dr. Dipu Moni, Abdul Mannan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal and Jatiya Party MP Zauddin Uddin Ahmed Bablu.
The parliamentarians said the persons who drummed up the allegations must seek an apology to the Prime Minister, the government and the countrymen and the victims of the case as well. They also demanded compensation from the World Bank for increasing the construction cost of the bridge due to delay of its beginning.
Describing the Padma bridge scam allegation as a plot against the country and the nation, Tofail Ahmed said some behind the scene elements made the allegations in a bid to halt the ongoing progress of the country.
"They did it, as they (plotters) knew that the country's GDP growth rate would increase by 2 per cent and the south-western region of the country would witness remarkable progress in socio-economic sector once the Padma bridge project is implemented," he added.
Tofail demanded of the government to take effective steps against the conspirators and urged lawmakers to adopt a resolution thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her bold steps and upholding the dignity of the nation for making the dream of constructing the Padma Bridge a reality.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said Prof. Dr. Younus drummed up the allegations and forced World Bank through former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to cancel the credit, which the world moneylender committed to providing Bangladesh for implementing the project.
She asked Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), an anti-graft watchdog, to seek explanation from World Bank as to why it had brought the 'false' allegation against the government that had undermined the image of the government and dignity of the nation.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said a vested interested group drummed up the allegation in a bid to halt the ongoing progress of the country, as they don't tolerate the development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina.
Meanwhile, at a separate programme in the capital, Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed alleged that Prof. Muhammad Yunus and former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton were engaged in a conspiracy to ruin Bangladesh’s development process.
“Yunus conducted the conspiracy, which is now known to all,” he alleged. The minister made this comment while addressing the 2017 annual conference of Janata Bank at a city hotel, a day after SNC-Lavalin executives were acquitted by a Canadian court of a bribery conspiracy in the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project. Tofail said a section of intellectuals, who had taunted the government after the WB’s allegation over the Padma bridge scam, should now apologise. “Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the former US foreign secretary Hillary Clinton and others, who conspired against the AL and tried to prove that there was corruption in the construction of Padma Bridge, should be brought to justice,” the minister said.
Referring to Yunus, Tofail further alleged: “He does not love our country and tries to conspire against the AL government.”

Sue WB for false Padma allegation

Ministers, MPs urge victims as JS sees intense discussion

Several ministers and lawmakers yesterday came down heavily on the World Bank (WB) for the false allegation of corruption in the Padma Bridge Project, saying that the multilateral lending agency should be sued and others involved should offer apology to the prime minister. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq was among those who took a hard-line stance and called upon all who got victimized by the false allegation to file a case against the WB. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, JSD lawmaker Moin Uddin Khan Badal, Jatiya Party MP Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu also demanded filing of a case against those who made the allegations in a bid to undermine the nations image. After the recent verdict of Canadian court, it has been proved that there was no corruption in Padma Bridge Project. The attempt to disgrace us as a nation, has failed. A graft case has been filed with an European court against Okampa, who himself tried to take the charge of investigation into the said graft, Huq said at a freshers reception at Mirpur in the capital. Answering a question whether Bangladesh has suffered because of that false allegation of the World Bank, the law minister said it was actually a blessing in disguise. As a result of their (World Bank) withdrawal of funding from the project, we have made two benefits -- we need not to pay any interest and also we have proved that we can carry out such a big project by our own funding. All these were possible because of the firmness of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Huq added. The issue also witnessed an intense and unscheduled lively discussion in parliament as it resumed the sitting at 4:49pm with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. Parliament members both from the treasury and opposition benches described the allegation of Padma Bridge scam as a plot against a sovereign country and its people to undermine the image of the present government. Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Firoj Rashid initiated the discussion immediately after the chair tabled one-hour question-answer session slated for ministers. The Jatiya Party lawmaker was followed by veteran Awami League leader and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Dr. Dipu Moni, Abdul Mannan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal and Jatiya Party MP Zauddin Uddin Ahmed Bablu. The parliamentarians said the persons who drummed up the allegations must seek an apology to the Prime Minister, the government and the countrymen and the victims of the case as well. They also demanded compensation from the World Bank for increasing the construction cost of the bridge due to delay of its beginning. Describing the Padma bridge scam allegation as a plot against the country and the nation, Tofail Ahmed said some behind the scene elements made the allegations in a bid to halt the ongoing progress of the country. They did it, as they (plotters) knew that the countrys GDP growth rate would increase by 2 per cent and the south-western region of the country would witness remarkable progress in socio-economic sector once the Padma bridge project is implemented, he added. Tofail demanded of the government to take effective steps against the conspirators and urged lawmakers to adopt a resolution thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her bold steps and upholding the dignity of the nation for making the dream of constructing the Padma Bridge a reality. Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said Prof. Dr. Younus drummed up the allegations and forced World Bank through former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to cancel the credit, which the world moneylender committed to providing Bangladesh for implementing the project. She asked Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), an anti-graft watchdog, to seek explanation from World Bank as to why it had brought the false allegation against the government that had undermined the image of the government and dignity of the nation. Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said a vested interested group drummed up the allegation in a bid to halt the ongoing progress of the country, as they dont tolerate the development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina. Meanwhile, at a separate programme in the capital, Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed alleged that Prof. Muhammad Yunus and former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton were engaged in a conspiracy to ruin Bangladeshs development process. Yunus conducted the conspiracy, which is now known to all, he alleged. The minister made this comment while addressing the 2017 annual conference of Janata Bank at a city hotel, a day after SNC-Lavalin executives were acquitted by a Canadian court of a bribery conspiracy in the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project. Tofail said a section of intellectuals, who had taunted the government after the WBs allegation over the Padma bridge scam, should now apologise. Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the former US foreign secretary Hillary Clinton and others, who conspired against the AL and tried to prove that there was corruption in the construction of Padma Bridge, should be brought to justice, the minister said. Referring to Yunus, Tofail further alleged: He does not love our country and tries to conspire against the AL government.