WB wants corruption-free work

World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweela has stressed that the Padma bridge construction work has to be transparent and corruption-free.

“We have asked [the Bangladesh government] to ensure three things — work standard, open procurement and transparent and corruption-free implementation work.”

She spoke to journalists after calling on finance minister A M A Muhith at the Secretariat on Wednesday morning.

The Bank at the meeting confirmed its $1200 million funding to the $ 2,900 million Padma bridge project.

An agreement to this effect would be signed between the government and the Bank on Thursday, Muhith told journalists.

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WB for graft-free Padma Bridge project

The World Bank asked Bangladesh on Wednesday to ensure that there is no corruption in spending its fund for Padma Multipurpose Bridge.

The WB wants to see the use of project money in a transparent way so that people benefit from it, WB Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his ministry.

The WB managing director said this while disclosing that the WB is going to provide Bangladesh a record amount of $2.2 billion during the current fiscal year.

Of it, $1.2 billion will be given as confessional credit for the construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.

Ngozi said it is possible to complete the work of Padma bridge during the present government’s tenure if the processes are maintained properly.

The WB will give priority to three issues — very often procurement, no corruption and transparency — in implementing the project so that the project is implemented in a transparent manner, she said.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the WB is giving the highest aid to Bangladesh in the single project of Padma Multipurpose Bridge.

Construction of Padma bridge is also going to be the country’s largest infrastructure development project during the grand alliance government rule.

Star Online

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