ZCZC
BSS-18
PM-TUNNEL-SPEECH 4 LAST CHATTOGRAM
The premier said there was no link of the Padma Bridge with those two projects and also told earlier the World Bank president to prove their allegation of graft regarding the Padma Bridge.
Without mentioning the names of anybody, the premier said that it is unfortunate that “some people of our country put blame on us for so-called corruption in the Padma Bridge”.
She said there are editors and owners of two renowned newspapers and a man of Chittagong who won Nobel prize by doing interest trade and eating up the money of the people carried out propaganda simultaneously in the (US) State Department.
Sheikh Hasina said a friend of Hillary Clinton maintained contact with her (Hilarry) by sending emails on this issue.
The prime minister said the World Bank had stopped funding in the Padma Bridge project. “Then we started the construction of the bridge with own financing as a challenge,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said later a case was filed in the Canadian Federal Court, but the World Bank could not prove anything. “In the verdict, the court said no graft took place and whatever the bank said are false and fabricated,” she said.
The prime minister said two years were wasted for this, and many had a notion that the development of Bangladesh is not possible without the World Bank. “Besides the finance minister, there was an adviser who created pressure on me,” she said.
She said that the World Bank gave various conditions including arrest of some people, saying that they will finance the Padma Bridge project if their conditions are fulfilled.
“I told the World Bank authorities to prove the allegation first,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said she had to engage in quarrel with the World Bank and had to go through mental torment. “You can’t understand it,” she said.
The prime minister said by the grace of almighty Allah, the government has been able to launch the construction work of the bridge with own funding. “Now the bridge is visible,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the construction of Karnaphuli Tunnel will bolster industrial development, flourish tourism and expand trade and commerce near the project area, creating employment and boosting exports.
Therefore, the overall socioeconomic development and the lifestyle of the people of this area will improve and there will be a very positive impact on the total economy of the country, she added.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is making progress in an indomitable pace and it could be possible due to the continuation of democracy.
“None will remain poor and homeless. We will construct houses for homeless people. Electricity will go to each household of the country soon,” the prime minister said.
Sheikh Hasina said the nation will celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020 and golden jubilee of independence in 2021.
“We shall also turn Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 and a developed and prosperous one by 2041, Insha Allah,” she added.
BSS/AKH-SH/BR/1730