Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday claimed that the government could not start the construction works of Padma bridge due to “unrealistic stance” of Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
“The finance minister sometimes makes sweeping comments which dismay country people. Beside he makes comments too hurriedly which obstructs our works. People like us making comment carefully,” said Quader.
The communications minister was talking to journalists while visiting the development works of Nabinagar-Kaliakoir road and Bypile-Abdullahpur road at Ashulia.
Quader, also a member of the ruling Awami League Presidium, said the present government would not have to face any problem in starting the construction work of the bridge as it has already allocated Tk 8,000 crore in this year’s budget.
With the amount, the work would go smoothly for the next one year, he claimed.
Quader criticised Muhith for ruling out Russian and Chinese proposals to invest in the bridge project.
“The finance minister is a learned person. When he will write his autobiography, he will understand one day that the construction work of the Padma bridge could not be started due to his unrealistic stance,” added the communications minister.
A Chinese company on Tuesday met the communications minister and proposed to invest $2.4 billion in the Padma bridge project.
On Thursday, Russian Ambassador in Dhaka Alexander A Nikolaev placed a proposal to Muhith that Russian government will finance the project and the contractors from his country will build the bridge.
Ruling out both the proposals, Muhith told journalists on Thursday, “My position is very clear. I am not prepared to accept any fixed contractor. We’ve invited international bidders. That’s my view.”
Muhith also said that the government is going to construct the bridge with its own financing. At this stage, government-to-government credit is not acceptable to Bangladesh.
Source: The Daily Star
