Lawmakers at the parliament today came down heavily on the World Bank over the Padma bridge issue, going as far as saying that the global lender itself is “a corrupt body”.
“The World Bank itself is a corrupt institution,” Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said in today’s session during open discussion at the point of order.
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Chipping in, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed demanded actions against “those who talked in favour of Padma Bridge scam”. The ruling party presidium member said: “They are enemies of the nation.”
Sheikh Fazlul Karim, also a presidium member of AL, lambasted Dr Yunus, civil society members, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and media for its role in spreading the propaganda.
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He warned of taking actions against those talked about the "so-called scam".
Law Minister Anisul Huq sought the World Bank’s apology to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for “maligning her image” by bringing corruption allegations in the project.
A Canadian court dismissed allegations of graft against officials of SNC-Lavalin Group in Canada – binning any practicality of the “corruption attempt” in the Padma bridge project.
Earlier, a number of government high-ups in Bangladesh were charged and later acquitted by a Bangladesh court and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the “graft attempt” case relating to the bridge project.