Dhaka: The External Panel of anti-corruption experts of the World Bank will arrive here on December 1 to assess whether the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) has made progress in launching an investigation into evidence of corruption under the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project.

"The external panel of internationally-recognized experts will advise the World Bank and co-financiers on the adequacy of the government's investigation during its second visit," said WB's Country Director Ellen Goldstein.

In anticipation of the panel's second visit to Dhaka, the Padma Bridge co- financiers gathered in Manila for preliminary discussions on revising project implementation arrangements, the WB said in a statement.

"Adequate progress in investigating corruption evidence is necessary to allow project implementation to move forward," it added.

On October 5, the WB announced the appointment of the panel. The three- member panel is chaired by Luis Moreno Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The two other panel members are Timothy Tong, former commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China; and Richard Alderman, former director of Britain's Serious Fraud Office.

"The people of Bangladesh know that the Padma Bridge will transform the economy of the Southwest and reduce poverty more rapidly. They want to see the project implemented free of corruption that takes money out of the hands of the poor," said Ellen Goldstein.

The original $1.2 billion World Bank credit for the bridge was cancelled on June 29, 2012 due to an insufficient response by Bangladeshi authorities to evidence of a conspiracy of corruption involving senior public officials.

Subsequently, additional actions were undertaken, and on September 20, 2012 the government agreed with the WB and the Padma Bridge co-financiers to place all public officials suspected of involvement in the corruption scheme on leave from government employment until the investigation is complete; appoint a special inquiry and prosecution team within the ACC to handle the investigation; grant access to all investigative information to an external panel of internationally recognized experts to advise the Bank and co-financiers on the credibility of the ACC's investigation; and revise implementation arrangements for the project to give the World Bank and co-financiers greater oversight of procurement processes.

The panel was formed after the government requested the WB to reconsider the financing of the Padma Bridge.

The panel made its first visit to Bangladesh in October to acquaint itself with efforts to date by the ACC, as well as Bangladeshi law and legal processes on conducting investigations.

Following the panel's first visit, the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency provided the ACC with additional information on November 13. The panel discussed how it would work with the ACC, and encouraged the commission to progress from preliminary inquiry to a deeper investigation of corruption evidence, the WB said.

Ends/AMA/01/12/12