“We can call for tenders next month. It will
then take 45 more days to process them ,” Muhith said while opening a
competition at the Customs in Chittagong.
The World Bank was to provide
$1.2 billion out of the $2.91 billion needed to construct the bridge on the
river Padma . On Friday, following a World Bank statement that they will have to
wait for a report on corruption allegations before finalising the functing,
Bangladesh’s Awami League government decided to refuse World Bank financing off
the project.
The Finance Minister had said on Wednesday that he intended
to keep the World Bank informed about the progress of the project, describing it
to be ‘the best strategy’ . "I am keeping them informed.”
He had admitted
that the government was in no position to start construction in the last year of
its tenure in power with funds from alternative sources, because it obviously
takes time to finalise such arrangements.
On asking about snubbing the
World Bank, Muhith refrained from comment. He said the government had already
spoken on the matter.
“We have said our schedules were not matching. This
(Padma bridge) was our electoral promise. Now we see we cannot work with them,”
he said.
On asking about how the bridge will be financed, Muhith said the
government will implement the project ‘at all cost’. “We will do it with own
funds… if not, then we will borrow.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had
said last week the government will bridge the Padma with its own funds, but she
also mentioned India, China and Malaysia as ‘alternative sources of funding’ for
what is easily Bangladesh’s biggest infrastructure project so far.
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