Transparency is a must

Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday demanded the government stand firm against any possibility of corruption and ensure maximum level of transparency and accountability in the Padma Bridge project. The demand came in the wake of the government decision to construct the bridge with own financing. In press statement, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “The people breathed a sigh of relief after the finance minister's assurance that the government will announce a five-year expenditure plan for construction of the Padma Bridge, and float tender by June.” As the World Bank and other international development organisations had distanced themselves from the funding process, he added, the government must probe the allegation of corruption and bring the corrupt people to justice. “Since the bridge will be constructed with own funds, it is crucial that even the slightest chances of corruption or waste of taxpayers' money should be dealt with utmost transparency and accountability.” The project hit a snag after the lead financier World Bank claimed that it found a corruption conspiracy in the project to award the construction supervisor's job to Canadian company SNC Lavalin. The government on January 31 withdrew its request to the World Bank for the Padma bridge loan. On Tuesday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith discussed the new implementation plan at a pre-budget meeting with the Economic Reporters Forum. He said the government would float tender by the first half of June to select bidders for the Padma bridge construction work and it would be completed by June 2016 as per the new implementation schedule. He said the government would unveil detailed plans through a statement by April 13 (tomorrow). A process, similar to the old implementation system where the donors had scope of evaluating the bidding process, would be employed to ensure transparency, the minister added. A move was on to form a group to get a second opinion about the bidding process, he noted.