Dhaka: The Anti-Corruption Commission will seriously consider the World Bank graft expert panel’s recommendations mentioned in its report on the Padma Bridge corruption conspiracy, which has already been submitted to Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

When attention of the ACC chairman was drawn to the report of the WB graft expert panel, Golam Rahman told Prime News, “We’ve not received the report yet. So I cannot tell you anything before having a look into the report.”

When asked for comments about the WB panel report, a commissioner of ACC on condition of anonymity said, “Of course, we will consider the WB graft expert panel’s recommendations in probing the alleged corrupting in the Padma Bridge project in completing the ACC investigation.”

“The WB graft expert panel’s report should be handed over to the ACC for helping its investigation and complete it,” he said.

The three-member graft expert probe panel after ending their mission six months ago finally submitted their report on the Padma Bridge graft to the World Bank and  the global lender’s Bangladesh country representative Johannes Zutt formally handed over that repot to Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday in his maiden meeting with the minister after his takeover. 

About the WB graft expert panel report, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said, “The WB graft expert panel made some recommendations for the ACC investigators regarding their investigation into the alleged Padma Bridge graft.”

But the finance minister did not make any elaboration of the recommendations made for the ACC in the WB report.

Handing over the report in the morning at the Fianance Minister’s office, Country Representative of the World Bank Johannes Zutt said, “Bangladesh could construct the Padma Bridge with own finance if it follows a “meticulously planned process for the project.” 

The WB representative also announced sanctioning of loans worth US$1.6 billion for infrastructure development for the current year 2014.

On Tuesday morning Johannes Zutt held an introductory discussion meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his Secretariat office following his takeover as the Bangladesh Country Representative. This was his first meeting with Muhith after takeover as Bangladesh country representative. After the meeting Zutt also exchanged views with the journalists present there and commented that the huge infrastructure project the Padma Bridge could be constructed with own funding through proper planning.

The World Bank representative also said, “The bridge is vital for linking up the capital city with the country’s South-Eastern districts.” He also expressed his hope that the WB funding for other development projects would continue unhindered despite its differences and exit from the Padma Bridge project. 

He said, “The Padma Bridge funding issue was settled and the project was aborted much earlier. The WB has already allocated US$1.6 billion for infrastructure development of the country in the current fiscal year and the same amount would be allocated for the next year as well. The multilateral lending agency would also continue its funding for other development projects in future as well.”

Despite the World Bank and other multilateral donor agencies’ exit from the bridge project, Bangladesh government expressed its conviction to construct the huge bridge with own finance and the government has even allocated around Tk 6,852 crore for starting construction of the bridge with own resources and funding.

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the international tender for the main bridge construction would be launched on June 30.

On October 5, 2012, the World Bank announced the appointment of the three-member graft expert panel led by Luis Moreno Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to help the ACC probe into the graft allegations expeditiously.

But despite several visit by World Bank expert panel to look into the graft investigation progress made by ACC, finally the World Bank team left the country following discord over the ACC investigation on the graft involving government high-ups, including two ministers and an adviser to the Prime Minister as the ACC probe spared them in its investigation report saying no clear evidence against then were found.

Despite repeated insistence by the World Bank over probing the Padma Bridge graft expeditiously, the ACC investigators kept on lingering the probe sparing even the key suspects pointed out by the global lender.

Moreover, despite providing evidence of the key suspects’ involvement in the corruption by the World Bank, the Bangladesh government and ACC had denied on several occasions that they had not received any evidence against those key suspects and following discord with the government and ACC the World Bank had finally deserted the project cancelling its loan pledge over government inaction regarding the graft allegation involving some ministers and high-ups.

The WB finally abandoned the project which was followed by other lead donors sealing the fate of the country’s largest infrastructure project over corruption allegation involving ministers and high-ups of the Awami League led government.

The ACC investigators filed a case with Banani Police Station against seven accused for graft conspiracy after a prolonged investigation sparing key suspects -- Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mosihur Rahman, former communication minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury. The ACC said the high profile suspects were not made accused as it has no substantial evidence against them in its hands regarding their involvement in the Padma Bridge graft despite the fact that the World Bank on several occasions said that it had provided concrete evidence against the key suspects over their involvement in the raft conspiracy.

ACC Deputy Director Abdullah Al Zahid filed the case on December 17, 2012 with Banani Police Station against seven accused – Bridge Divison Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Superintendent Engineer Kazi Md Ferdous, Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Md Riaz Ahmed Jaber, Deputy Managing Director of EPC Golam Mostafa, SNC Lavalin’s vice president Kevin Wallace, vice –president (International Project) Romesh Shaha and former Director Mohammad Ismail.

The allegations against former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury will be scrutinized during the investigation of the case as the ACC could not collect sufficient evidence over their alleged involvement in the conspiracy, Abdullah Al Zahid told reporters at a press conference in the capital on December 17, 2012.

The WB cancelled its $1.2 billion funding on June 29, saying it had proof of a "corruption conspiracy" involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals. The WB even blacklisted and banned a Canadian company -SNC Lavalin for 10 years from its global projects for the firm’s involvement in the Padma Bridge graft.

The global lender on September 20 decided to revive the loan after the Bangladesh government agreed to the WB's terms and conditions including a vigorous probe into the Padma Bridge graft by ACC and assured punishment of the persons involved.

(This story has been translated, rewritten and edited by Md. Al-Amin)

Ends/HBS/AMA/11/06/13