Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith is hoping that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will finance the Padma bridge after they pulled out.
The Minister, attending the Annual General Meeting of the ADB in India, on Thursday said he would try to secure commitment from officials of the two development partners when he will meet them.
He said he will see ADB President Takehiko Nakao on Friday, the second day of the four-day AGM. Muhith said: “I will request them to come back. I hope they will return.”
Early this year, the ADB and JICA walked out of the $2.9 billion infrastructure project when Bangladesh withdrew its request for fund from the World Bank, the lead financer. The move followed its row with the global lender over allegation of corruption conspiracy, involving top officials, in Bangladesh’s biggest such project.
The government has since been saying that it will bridge the Padma River with its own finance.
Asked about the process of ADB and JICA’s return, the Minister said laughing: “Wait and see how they come back.”
“We’ll float tenders shortly. The whole financing will be adjusted when the ADB and JICA return,” he added.
JICA’s South Asia Department Director General Nakahara Masataka, who is attending the ADB meet, told journalists that they were ready to discuss Padma bridge financing anew if they were given the chance to fund a new project.
“If Bangladesh government wants, we’re ready to discuss it,” he said.
The ADB official had a meeting also with Economic Relations Division Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman.
ADB’s 46th AGM started at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida in New Delhi on Thursday.
Muhith had a meeting with his Indian counterpart P Chidambaram on Thursday afternoon.
Bangladesh’s Alternative Executive Director at the ADB Headquarters Iqbal Mahmud told journalists: “Having had discussions with the organisation’s top officials, I can realise that they’re ready to finance (the bridge project).”
The ADB and JICA together committed $ 1.01 billion – $ 610 million and $ 400 million respectively – one-third of the total estimated cost for the project.
Source: bdnews24
