Padma graft allegation

WB should compensate, says Anisul

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said that the World Bank (WB) should give compensation to the country or take action against its officials who brought false corruption allegation in Padma Bridge Project to regain its trust. The law minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a training programme for district and sessions judges at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in the capital.
“We want remedy over the conduct that World Bank has done with Bangladesh on financing the Padma bridge construction. The AL led 14-party alliance has demanded 1 billion from the World Bank as compensation for making false stories over the Padma Bridge Project, he added.
Law Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque and JATI’s Director General Justice Khondker Musa Khaled also spoke at the inaugural function. In response to a query, he said that none is above the law. Those who have become victims due to the false allegation of the World Bank can take legal action against the global money lender, he added. Replying to a question, he said it was not mentioned in the agreement signed by Bangladesh and the World Bank that legal action can be taken against the World Bank if it cancels the loan, although the World Bank is not above the law. In response to another query on the High Court rule on formation of an enquiry commission to identify the people who made up ‘false stories’ about a corruption conspiracy involving the Padma bridge project, the minister said that it would be fair if any observation comes from the High Court.
On Wednesday, the HC issued a suo moto rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why it should not be directed to form an enquiry commission to identify the ‘culprits who made up false stories’ about a corruption conspiracy involving the Padma bridge project. In the rule, the court also asked the authorities to explain why they should not be ordered to bring those behind such stories to justice.

Padma graft allegation

WB should compensate, says Anisul

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said that the World Bank (WB) should give compensation to the country or take action against its officials who brought false corruption allegation in Padma Bridge Project to regain its trust. The law minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a training programme for district and sessions judges at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in the capital. We want remedy over the conduct that World Bank has done with Bangladesh on financing the Padma bridge construction. The AL led 14-party alliance has demanded 1 billion from the World Bank as compensation for making false stories over the Padma Bridge Project, he added. Law Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque and JATIs Director General Justice Khondker Musa Khaled also spoke at the inaugural function. In response to a query, he said that none is above the law. Those who have become victims due to the false allegation of the World Bank can take legal action against the global money lender, he added. Replying to a question, he said it was not mentioned in the agreement signed by Bangladesh and the World Bank that legal action can be taken against the World Bank if it cancels the loan, although the World Bank is not above the law. In response to another query on the High Court rule on formation of an enquiry commission to identify the people who made up false stories about a corruption conspiracy involving the Padma bridge project, the minister said that it would be fair if any observation comes from the High Court. On Wednesday, the HC issued a suo moto rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why it should not be directed to form an enquiry commission to identify the culprits who made up false stories about a corruption conspiracy involving the Padma bridge project. In the rule, the court also asked the authorities to explain why they should not be ordered to bring those behind such stories to justice.