No more appeal for Padma fund: Prime Mnister Sheikh Hasina

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

The bridge over river Padma and the world bank/dr. younus and bnp jamat
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No more appeal for Padma fund: Prime Mnister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said Bangladesh will make no more request to any donor agencies for financing the Padma bridge project.

“We will not pursue anyone anymore for constructing the Padma bridge,” she said after inaugurating a three-day conference of the deputy commissioners at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

Hasina said she had received numerous phone calls in support of her decision to construct the much-talked about bridge with own fund.

“Teachers, school-going students, youths, upazila chairmen, and lot more people have promised me to help by providing financial aid according to their ability,” the PM said.

She also said her government will not tolerate corruption and extravagant spending under any circumstances.

The premier also called upon the deputy commissioners (DC) to serve the people sincerely.

“Remember, your educational expenses were met up by the income of the rural people. Your salary and other benefits are also coming from the income of rural people. So, it is your moral duty to contribute to the development of these people,” said the PM.

There is no scope to adapt policy of stepping aside or going slow to the development activities, the PM said.

She also stressed the need to start the development work from the very beginning of the year.

The premier also urged them to enforce the Vested Property Return (amendment) Act 2011 properly in their respective areas.

She urged them to contribute to the augmentation of agricultural land and to take steps to convert barren land into arable one.

“It is rainy season now. Please, stand by the people during flood and river erosion whenever it occurs. People want to get you beside them at the time of such disaster. If you stand by them people feel confident to face any adverse situation,” the PM told the DCs.

At the inaugural session, the premier also directed the deputy commissioners to create land management policy showing plans to build housing, educational institutions, industries and others so that the government can ensure electricity and other modern facilities there.

Padma Bridge with own fund, reaffirms PM
Wed, 11/07/2012 – 6:27pm | by Sharmaluna

Renewing her strong commitment to build the country’s biggest Padma Bridge with own fund, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she cannot earn any bad name without committing anything wrong.

“I’m confident I didn’t do anything wrong. So, I won’t accept any disrepute (regarding the Padma Bridge),” she said adding, “Inshallah, we’ll begin the construction work on the Padma Bridge.”
The Prime Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the National Council 2012 of Awami Swechchasebak League at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

AL organising secretary AFM Bahabuddin Nasim, Swechchasebak League president Molla Md Abu Kawser, general secretary Pankaj Debnath spoke on the occasion. Nirmal Ranjan Guha delivered the welcome address.

In a scathing attack on the World Bank, Hasina raised question for whose interest the lending agency cheated the common people of Bangladesh with alleged suspicion of corruption.

She alleged the World Bank cancelled its US$ 1.2 billion loan to Bangladesh for Padma Bridge although they did not release even a single taka. “Had they (WB) released even one taka, then no question would have been raised.”

She mentioned that the government has so far spent Tk 1,500 crore on land acquisition and rehabilitation and no allegation of corruption was raised in this regard even by the World Bank.

The AL chief also recalled that the World Bank had cancelled funding in seven projects in communication and power sectors during the tenure of BNP-Jamaat for their corruption.

Responding to the criticism that the government would not be able to build the bridge with its own fund, Hasina said, “We don’t want to beg. If we take loan then we’ll repay it with interest. It’s not begging…the people of Bangladesh didn’t bow to anyone and will do it never.”

She went on: “I believe we’ll be able to begin the construction work on the Padma Bridge as we haven’t assumed power to commit corruption, and we’re not in power for the first time.”

Referring to the overwhelming response of the common people when the Prime Minister made her cellphone numbers public, Hasina mentioned the people of Bangladesh have proved that the present government is on the path of truth and justice regarding the bridge issue.

The Prime Minister said if the donors come up with their offer to fund the bridge, the government would only decide after scrutiny whether it would take the assistance.

She alleged that the opposition leader and her family members had indulged in corruption and siphoned off money abroad. “Even Khaleda Zia, being a former Prime Minister, whitened black money paying fine.”

Hasina mentioned that the trial of the 10-truck arms haul case in Chittagong, August 21 grenade attack case and the trial of war criminals are already underway, and the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

Referring to the BDR mutiny, she alleged why the opposition leader had gone underground coming out of her the then cantonment residence just 2-3 hours before the mutiny started in a vehicle featuring black glasses and why Khaleda did not return to her residence for the next one and a half months.

“The mystery is gradually unfolding,” she added.

Stating that the BDR mutiny case is being held in a disciplined manner, the Prime Minister said the trial of the killing case in BDR mutiny has also begun and urged all to remain alert about those trying to save the killers through obstructing the trial.

Hasina alleged after losing her cantonment residence following a court verdict, Khaleda Zia cried her heart out, called programmes like hartal and even burned innocent people to death.

On the other hand, she said, Awami League does politics only to serve the people of the country.

Highlighting various successes and achievements the country made during the tenure of the present government, the Prime Minister said some 1.30 crore people came under the new power network along with 25 lakh new power connections, employment opportunities have been created for some 75 lakh people, including 4.5 lakh, in the public sector.

She also mentioned holding of over 5,200 different elections in a free, fair and neutral manner, increasing the foreign currency reserve to over US$ 10 billion, increasing export earnings and attaining food security.

Mentioning that her government has revived the spirit of the Liberation War through the 15th amendment to the constitution, the Prime Minister expressed her strong resolve to turn the country into a middle-income one by 2021.

She also directed the leaders and activists of Awami Swechchasebak League to project the development activities of the government as well as to render their services for ensuring welfare of the common people to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Dipu Moni taps potential financiers
Sat, 15/10/2011 – 1:26am | by priyodesk

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni said she discussed with a number potential financiers the urgency of financing the Padma Bridge during her important US trip, as a major donor agency apparently backed out.

Talking to banglanews at John F Kennedy Airport here before her departure for home, Dipu Moni said she had discussions with “World Bank’s vice president, US Congressional Caucus leaders, think tanks, international investors, trading partners and US Chambers of Commerce about the mater of financing the Padma Bridge” during her three-day tour. The foreign minister took the initiative in arranging necessary funds for the dream bridge over the mighty Padma when the finance minister’s mission during his US tour virtually failed to persuade the World Bank headquarters. When asked about the success of the trip, the foreign minister told banglanews, “I held a friendly meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and I am very pleased about the fruitful discussion.” The prime minister also visited the USA few days ago,” she said when asked about the premier’s visit to Washington.

WB revives Padma bridge loan WB

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

WB revives Padma bridge loan

WB sets a series of pre-requisites for its return

Star Online Report

The World Bank (WB) has formally decided to revive its $1.2 billion loan deal for Padma bridge project.

“The World Bank has agreed that, upon satisfactory implementation of the agreed measures by the government, and with the support of the WB’s governing bodies, it will engage anew in the Padma bridge project,” a statement of the WB released on early Friday said.

Though the WB agreed to revive the loan, the statement said, “The World Bank remains vigilant to any signs of corruption in the Padma bridge project, and our determination to take a strong line against wrongdoing will never waver. If implemented properly, the bridge has the potential to deliver remarkable benefits to the people of Bangladesh, who deserve transparent use of public money, clean implementation of the project and a high-quality bridge to spur growth and development for years to come.”

After the exposure of the corruption, the statement said, “The WB’s investigative unit previously shared with the government of Bangladesh credible evidence of corruption related to our financing of the bridge, and the WB had identified a series of clear measures to be implemented by the government for the WB to remain engaged with the project, which the government of Bangladesh had failed to meet.”

For it to revive the deal, the global lender set some conditions. These included: (i) placing all public officials suspected of involvement in the corruption scheme on leave from government employment until the investigation is completed, (ii) appointing a special inquiry and prosecution team within the Bangladeshi Anti-Corruption Commission to handle the investigation, (iii) agreeing to provide full access to all investigative information to an external panel of internationally recognised experts so that they can give guidance to the WB and co-financiers on the progress, adequacy, and fairness of the investigation, and (iv) agreeing on new implementation arrangements that gives the WB and co-financiers greater oversight of project procurement processes.

The key financier of the project also said following the cancellation of the credit, the Bangladesh government took actions necessary to fulfill the above measures.

The government has also begun to address the evidence of corruption the WB identified, the statement added.

The World Bank understands that all government employees and officials alleged to have been involved in corrupt acts in connection with the project have been put on leave from government service until an investigation is completed, and that a full and fair investigation is now underway.

The global lender also showed it reason behind the revival of the loan deal saying “In its communication with the World Bank about the fulfillment of these measures, the government of Bangladesh requested the WB to consider again the financing of the Padma bridge.”

It also said, “The government agreed to a series of measures as a pre-requisite for any renewed implementation. These include new procurement arrangements with enhanced oversight, to ensure transparency and clean construction of the bridge; investigations proceeding in a full, fair, and expeditious manner; and an independent External Panel to review the investigation and report their findings to the government and the World Bank.”

Meanwhile, Awami League expressed gratitude to World Bank for its decision of reviving loan for Padma bridge project.

“Through a fruitful negotiation we have eliminated the misapprehension. We are grateful to World Bank for its agreeable consideration,” AL Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif told The Daily Star.

He also said after the loan revival, the start of the Padma bridge construction would help AL keep its election promise to North Bengal people.

Disengaged, not leave: Alternative proposal sends to World bank

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

Disengaged, not leave: Alternative proposal sends to World bank

Wed, 19/09/2012 – 1:26am | by priyodesk

Amid confusion over Mashiur Rahman’s proceeding on leave, the government has sent an envoy to Washington with an alternative proposal for the revival of the Padma bridge loan deal.

Under the alternative proposal, Mashiur will remain disengaged from government responsibilities instead of going on leave, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office told The Daily Star yesterday.

Gowher Rizvi, foreign affairs adviser to the prime minister, left Dhaka on Sunday night for the World Bank head office in Washington carrying a letter to this end, added the sources.

The letter, however, did not clarify how Mashiur would disengage himself from government duties, which leaves room for confusion for the global lender.

A high-level delegation of the Bangladesh government was scheduled to start talks with top WB officials in Washington in this regard last night.

But finance ministry officials say they are doubtful that the WB will accept such an offer.

After cancelling its $1.2 billion loan deal in June, the WB made a fresh commitment to the government that it would revive the deal on three conditions, including the removal of Mashiur, who is the integrity adviser of the $2.97 billion project.

On Monday night Mashiur rejected media reports that he had gone on leave, although a number of top government and Awami League sources told this paper that he had proceeded on a month’s leave.

According to government sources, the adviser did not attend the weekly cabinet meeting on Monday and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council meeting yesterday.

Asked to comment on his reported going on leave, Mashiur told reporters yesterday, “There were no talks between the person who will seek leave and the person who will grant it.”

He evaded a directed reply on whether he would still be discharging his duties as an adviser, but said, “I took breakfast today as I take on other days. If you still ask me whether I am hungry, I have no reply. I have taken the amount of food I usually take and I have done the work I do every day.”

He has all along maintained his innocence, but said he would go only if the prime minister asked him to.

World Bank positive on Padma bridge loan

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

World Bank positive on Padma bridge loan

Amid a series of hectic negotiations, the World Bank has verbally agreed to revive its $1.2-billion loan deal for the Padma bridge project following government steps to meet the Bank’s conditions, highly-placed government sources have said.

The global leader gave the “positive signal” early yesterday after the government formally disengaged the prime minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser, Mashiur Rahman, from government activities to comply with the WB’s last condition.

The WB would make an official announcement about the revival in a few days upon completion of necessary procedures.

The global lender’s “decision” to return to the project came at final negotiations between Bangladesh and the WB at the Bank’s headquarters in Washington yesterday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi was among a high-level Bangladesh delegation to have joined the talks.

Meanwhile, Hasina at a cabinet meeting yesterday said the government would inform the nation about the much-talked-about loan revival after getting the official notification from the Bank, the sources said.

The premier also said the WB might announce its decision by October 15, according to the sources.

Later in the day, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the talks with the WB had reached a final stage and the government was hopeful about the revival of the credit deal.

“We are expecting a positive decision from the World Bank. I will say nothing at this stage. Let them make the announcement first,” Muhith told reporters at Cirdap auditorium in the capital.

Admitting that Mashiur would indeed remain disengaged from the Padma bridge project’s work and other economic matters of the government, Muhith said, “Both the government and the World Bank have to make some concessions to reach an agreement.”

Yesterday’s talks at the WB headquarters mainly focused on the fate of Mashiur, who was integrity adviser of the $2.97-billion Padma bridge project.

According to the sources, the Bank wanted a letter from the government confirming Mashiur’s leave. But the Bangladesh delegation told the WB that the adviser would remain disengaged from government activities instead of going on leave.

On Wednesday, the government sent a letter to the WB headquarters in line with its demand but it was unclear if it was Mashiur’s leave application, added the sources.

The premier earlier held a one-to-one meeting with Mashiur, but the topic of the discussion could not be known.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hasina, who is also president of the ruling Awami League, asked Mashiur to sit at her political office and work on the party’s economic policies for its next election manifesto.

The WB cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project on June 29, saying it had proof of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some private individuals, whose identities have remained a mystery. For it to revive the deal, the Bank set four conditions, including the removal of former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and sending Mashiur on leave.

Normally, the WB does not revive a cancelled deal. It has agreed to revive the Padma bridge loan agreement mainly owing to diplomatic efforts.

Apart from Rizvi, AL General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam made hectic efforts to convince diplomats of various countries that have representatives in the WB board, said the sources.

World Bank revives Padma bridge loan

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

World Bank revives Padma bridge loan

The World Bank (WB) has formally decided to revive its $1.2 billion loan deal for Padma bridge project.

The key financier of the project also said following the cancellation of the credit, the Bangladesh government took actions necessary to fulfill the above measures.

The government has also begun to address the evidence of corruption the WB identified, the statement added.

Padma Bridge: Take stern action against graft: TIB

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

Padma Bridge: Take stern action against graft: TIB

In the wake of the World Bank decision to revive its loan agreement to the Padma Bridge project, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged the government to take the correct lesson out of the experience so that it does not face any recurrence of such self-embarrassment in the days to come.

In a statement on Friday, TIB executive director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said the World Bank decision may be viewed now as a diplomatic gain for the government.

“However, taking the proper lesson out of the whole episode, it must firmly abandon the denial syndrome of rejecting allegations of corruption and take these seriously to ensure due investigation free from any bias or influence so that exemplary action is taken against those found guilty without any fear or favour. Failing this, a possible sense of satisfaction in the corridors of the government can be short-lived”, he said.

He said the government’s failure to act promptly, as soon as allegation of corruption arose, has not only undermined its own credibility, but also led to the possibility of depriving the people of the country of a highly important development opportunity.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the government should be aware that there is no reason to believe that the World Bank’s decision to come back by itself help regain the trust of the people of the country showing respect to its own electoral pledges against corruption.

“To achieve that, the government must ensure strong and faultless measures to prevent all forms of illicit act and conflict of interest, particularly collusive corruption involving people in positions of power.”

TIB executive director demanded taking stern actions against corruption in connection with Padma Bridge and other high profile corruption cases like the stock market, Destiny, Hall-Mark and Sonali Bank scam.

The government cannot ignore that frustration due to a deepening culture of impunity is no more limited to people outside the government but also a lot of those within, he added.

Padma Bridge: Quader says time needed to start work

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

Padma Bridge: Quader says time needed to start work

Fri, 21/09/2012 – 10:33pm | by khairul amin

Welcoming the World Bank’s return to the Padma Bridge project, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said on Friday it will take time a bit to start work on it as some systematic and technical tasks need to be done between the government and the lending agency.

“The government wants to begin the long-awaited construction work at the earliest. Preparatory works, site rehabilitation, building of construction yard in this regard are going to be completed,” he said.

The minister said this while talking to reporters during his visit to the under-construction Sonatola Bridge in Ullahpara of the district.

“There’s no scope to deviate from the Prime Minister’s pledge to start the project during the tenure of the present government,” he added.

Show-cause notice

The Communications Minister issued show-cause notices to three engineers for their negligence of duty, according to a PID handout.

The three officials are superintending engineer of Bogra Roads and Highways department Abul Hossain Pramanik, executive engineer Moniruzzaman and executive engineer of Gaibandha district Roads and Highways department Monges Selim.

Malaysia To Implement Padma Bridge Project

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

Malaysia To Implement Padma Bridge Project Irrespective Of World Bank’s Decision

By Saraswathi Muniappan

NEW DELHI, Sept 21 (Bernama) — The Malaysian government decided to partake in Bangladesh’s Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) project as part of its mission to safeguard the well-being of another Muslim country, Malaysia’s special envoy to India and South Asia, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.

The Malaysian government came into the US$2.9 billion project when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina decided to give it to Malaysia after the World Bank dropped from it almost a year ago.

“Hence, the Malaysian government will proceed with its proposal to implement the PMB project in Bangladesh irrespective of the World Bank’s decision to ‘engage anew’ in the project,” he said amid the World Bank’s decision to revive its loan deal for the project.

The Financial Express of Bangladesh reported that The World Bank is set to finance the PMB project as it has agreed to revive its cancelled US$1.20 billion loan Thursday.

A Bangladesh delegation has succeeded in Washington to convince the global lender to revive the loan, officials at the Bangladesh embassy in the US said.

The officials said the World Bank has also informed other co-financiers, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), about its decision.

Malaysia is currently making the final preparations to submit to the Bangladesh government. The draft concession agreement has already been submitted.

“The Malaysian government has already put in money and time in the preparation of the proposal. We have appointed world-class consultants and they have been working around the clock to finalise the proposal,” he told Bernama.

During the past five months, delegates and experts from Malaysia have made many trips to Dhaka to hold a series of negotiations with the Bangladesh government, which had also requested for several modifications to the former’s proposal, which has been undertaken.

“We understand that the World Bank had made a conditional offer to the Bangladesh government. However this will not in any way affect the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Kuala Lumpur and Dhaka to implement the project. We will proceed with our work and make our final submission on the cost estimate of the project as requested by the Bangladesh government,” he said.

The MoU for the project, which would be implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on a Build, Operate, Own and Transfer (BOOT) model, was signed in April this year.

Samy Vellu reiterated that the Malaysian government would honour its commitment to the Bangladesh government to complete the project in three years and four months.

“We will commence work within this year and complete it on time. The project will be financed by the concessionaire from Malaysia and its partner from China.”

The Bangladesh government will not be overly burdened by this project financially as the financing of this project comes from the Malaysian concessionaire, he said.

Earlier Story of Padma Bridge

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Moktel Hossain Mukthi

The bridge over river Padma and the world bank/dr. younus and bnp jamat
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No more appeal for Padma fund: Prime Mnister Sheikh Hasina