The Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday claimed that World Bank’s external panel has expressed satisfaction at the filing of a case over corruption conspiracy in the Padma bridge project.
ACC Commissioner Mohammad Shahabuddin disclosed it to reporters at its Segunbagicha head office in the capital.
He said, “They (WB’s expert panel) are happy for that.”
“Now you (ACC) are open as per your law and has got a wider scope to investigate the allegation,” Shahabuddin said quoting from WB panel’s reaction.
He said the external panel gave its reaction in a letter to the ACC three days back.
Around a month after filing of the corruption conspiracy case on December 17 last year, the panel in its reaction advised ACC to examine carefully and extensively the public procurement act and rules and other laws of the country during investigation.
The panel also said they are ready to give assistance in the investigation, he said adding “If we seek their help they will come and extend their technical support to the investigation team.”
Asked whether WB will release its fund to the Padma bridge project with the investigation in progress, he said, “The matter of funding the bridge project is not related to ACC. The government deals with it.”
Asked whether the panel gave any observation over dropping the names of former communication minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury from the list of accused in the case, he said the panel gave no direct reply regarding the two ministers.
After a year-long inquiry into the allegation over the much-hyped Padma bridge project, the ACC on December 17 last year sued seven people for conspiring to commit bribery.
The accused include former secretary of the Bridges Division Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, but the anti-graft body did not include in the case former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury.
The six other accused in the case filed with Banani Police Station are Superintendent Engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) Kazi Mohammad Ferdous, Executive Engineer of Roads and Highway Department Reaz Ahmed Zaber, Deputy Managing Director of Engineering and Planning Consultant, a local agent Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, Mohammad Mostofa and SNC Lavalin officials Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wales.
According to the case statement, former secretary Mosharraf dissolved the evaluation committee four times between January and June 2010 in efforts to award the consulting job to the company of his choice.
The WB cancelled its $1.2 billion funding on June 29 this year, saying it had proof of a “corruption conspiracy” involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals.
The global lender on September 21 decided to revive the loan after the Bangladesh government agreed to the WB’s terms and conditions.
Source: The Daily Star
