Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Saturday said the World Bank’s latest statement is “totally unjust” as discussions are still on with the global lender regarding the Padma bridge funding.
“I’m not just liking it,” the minister said when reporters in Sylhet asked him about Saturday’s WB statement over the much-talked-about issue, according to reports.
Earlier in the day, the Dhaka office of the WB in a statement said it will will proceed with support for the Padma Bridge only if the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) launches a full and fair investigation based on evidence of corruption under the project.
“The World Bank provided extensive information to the ACC to support such an investigation. Following its first visit to Bangladesh, the External Panel of independent anti-corruption experts encouraged the ACC to launch a full and fair investigation based on available evidence and in full accordance with Bangladeshi law. During its second visit to Bangladesh last week, the Panel noted several unresolved issues and further encouraged the ACC to follow available evidence in determining the scope of its investigation,” said Ellen Goldstein, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, in the statement.
She also said the panel will issue a statement when the ACC completes its review and takes a final decision on the scope of the investigation.
The statement is a consequence of the WB’s external panel’s two rounds of visits to Dhaka over the financing of the Padma bridge project.
BBN/SSR/AD-08Dec12-9:10 pm (BST)
