TIB, CPD should apologise for criticising govt over Padma Bridge, says Hasan Mahmud

Organisations like the TIB and the CPD should apologise for their wrong criticisms over the corruption allegations regarding the construction of the Padma Bridge, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said.

The minister also said that they, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), are yet to express an apology.

These organisations were more vocal than the World Bank regarding the corruption allegations, which were later found unfounded and false by a Canadian court, the minister noted.

Later, prior to the completion of the bridge project, the World Bank expressed their interest to fund the project but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rejected their proposal, he added.

“And only a visionary leader like Sheikh Hasina has the courage to say ‘no’ to the World Bank”, the minister felt.

The minister said this while launching a book on the Padma Bridge titled ‘Padma Bridge: An Epic Accomplishment' in the capital on Monday.

The book, edited by Dr. Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, incorporates several articles of the key figures who were associated with the construction of the bridge.

Addressing the programme, Dr Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said that the bridge symbolises self-reliant Bangladesh.

Former state minister M Shahriar Alam said that the resilience of the people of Bangladesh has been exhibited through the construction of the bridge.

Sihab Shahriar, who was also a member of the book publishing team, spoke on the occasion.

A music video of a patriotic song titled ‘Sonar Bangladeshi’ was also launched in the programme.

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