The adviser attends office with Padma probe still on
Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman has returned to work, although one of the World Bank conditions for the revival of Padma bridge loan was to keep him on leave during the probe into graft allegations in the mega project.
He joined his workplace at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday afternoon as his one-month leave ended on Wednesday, said his Personal Secretary Tapan Kumar Chakrabarty in the evening.
Relying to a query, Tapan said he knew nothing about the adviser’s leave extension.
This correspondent could not reach Mashiur despite repeated attempts.
The adviser had been dropped from several committees, including cabinet committees on economic affairs and purchases, and he would be kept out of these bodies even after his joining, a cabinet division official earlier had said.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday asked Mashiur to appear before it on November 6 to face questioning in connection with the graft allegations.
An external panel of the World Bank earlier had visited Dhaka to monitor the ACC enquiries into the alleged corruption in the project.
In June, the WB cancelled its $1.2 billion loan deal citing “corruption conspiracy” in the project. It said the government has to meet three conditions, including sending Mashiur on leave, for revival of the agreement.
The global lender, however, in September decided to revive its loan, saying all its conditions were met.
Source: The Daily Star
