Padma Bridge with own fund, if necessary: PM tells JS
Sangsad Bhaban, July 4 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh will construct the much-talked-about Padma Bridge with its own fund, if necessary.
“We’ll go for it with our own fund, if needed,” she informed parliament amid table thumping by MPs.
Hasina said she already had a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank governor, the Economic Relations Division and Finance Secretary on Tuesday regarding funding of the project.
“Our economy isn’t in that much bad shape. I asked them how much money it (Padma Bridge) will require. I also enquired about using our own reserve for this purpose by taking one or two billion dollars a year,” she told the House in response to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker M Fazlul Azim (Noakhali-6) during the PM’s question-answer session.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the country which can move forward on its own strong feet during the global economic recession can also go for building a mega project like Padma Bridge with its own fund.
“At this time of recession many countries across the globe feel the pinch, but Bangladesh is moving towards the right direction,” she said adding, “Inshallah, we’ll start the construction work on the Padma Bridge.”
About Malaysian proposal for the constriction of Padma Bridge, she said, “Any proposal will have to be acceptable to the country and its people first.”
About corruption allegation in the bridge project, she asked, “How can corruption take place in a project for which not a single paisa from the fund has been released.”
She said the government removed the Minister, the Secretary and the Project Director when the World Bank raised corruption concerns. “This is exception. No country in the world did so (removal of minister, officials) what we did. We did it for the sake of transparent investigation.”
Hasina also said that even the then BNP government did not take any action or remove any minister despite their involvement in corruption. “Our aim is to serve people, not to make money by assuming power.”
Mentioning “corrupt practices” within the World Bank, the Prime Minister said, “I think it should be investigated to identify who are actually behind it.”
The Prime Minister said the country has 16 crore people and 80 lakh more living abroad for the implementation of the Padma Bridge.
She alleged that the Padma Bridge project could not be started during the BNP regime simply because of corruption and the World Bank had also stopped funding in electricity and energy sector development for graft.
The World Bank had cancelled funding for seven projects in Communications sector including Dhaka-Mymensing four-lane project due to corruption.
“We’ve started the work on Dhaka-Mymensingh four-lane project with our own funds,” the Prime Minister told the House.
“We’ll go for it with our own fund, if needed,” she informed parliament amid table thumping by MPs.
Hasina said she already had a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank governor, the Economic Relations Division and Finance Secretary on Tuesday regarding funding of the project.
“Our economy isn’t in that much bad shape. I asked them how much money it (Padma Bridge) will require. I also enquired about using our own reserve for this purpose by taking one or two billion dollars a year,” she told the House in response to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker M Fazlul Azim (Noakhali-6) during the PM’s question-answer session.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the country which can move forward on its own strong feet during the global economic recession can also go for building a mega project like Padma Bridge with its own fund.
“At this time of recession many countries across the globe feel the pinch, but Bangladesh is moving towards the right direction,” she said adding, “Inshallah, we’ll start the construction work on the Padma Bridge.”
About Malaysian proposal for the constriction of Padma Bridge, she said, “Any proposal will have to be acceptable to the country and its people first.”
About corruption allegation in the bridge project, she asked, “How can corruption take place in a project for which not a single paisa from the fund has been released.”
She said the government removed the Minister, the Secretary and the Project Director when the World Bank raised corruption concerns. “This is exception. No country in the world did so (removal of minister, officials) what we did. We did it for the sake of transparent investigation.”
Hasina also said that even the then BNP government did not take any action or remove any minister despite their involvement in corruption. “Our aim is to serve people, not to make money by assuming power.”
Mentioning “corrupt practices” within the World Bank, the Prime Minister said, “I think it should be investigated to identify who are actually behind it.”
The Prime Minister said the country has 16 crore people and 80 lakh more living abroad for the implementation of the Padma Bridge.
She alleged that the Padma Bridge project could not be started during the BNP regime simply because of corruption and the World Bank had also stopped funding in electricity and energy sector development for graft.
The World Bank had cancelled funding for seven projects in Communications sector including Dhaka-Mymensing four-lane project due to corruption.
“We’ve started the work on Dhaka-Mymensingh four-lane project with our own funds,” the Prime Minister told the House.
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