Muhith's press meet postponed

 
Dhaka, Aug 28  The Finance Minister's scheduled Wednesday's media briefing on the government's attempts to get the World Bank back to finance the Padma bridge project and some other related issues has been postponed.
Ministry officials informed journalists on Wednesday morning about the adjournment.
While entering the ministry, Finance Minister AMA Muhith told newsmen in response to a query, "I still have two days in hand. I'll talk after that."
He was expected to talk about rumours that the Prime Minister's Advisor Mashiur Rahman is the next person to resign to facilitate the government's successful negotiations with the World Bank.
Though AMA Muhith on Saturday said obstacles to get fund from the World Bank were being removed, several newspapers reported that the global lender would not agree to release funds unless Mashiur, adviser to Sheikh Hasina on economic affairs and also the project's Integrity Advisor, was removed.
On Sunday, answering journalists queries as to whether he had resigned, Mashiur said, "A government statement regarding this matter should come first. The Finance Minister is to come up with the government statement. However, I can only express what I feel about the matter."
Since then journalists had been trying to reach the Finance minister for the government version.
"I am not ready. I will give a statement on this matter," said Muhith when approached by reporters at his office at the Secretariat. He added the statement would be given on Wednesday.
In June last year, the World Bank went back on its pledge to provide $ 1.2 billion to the project alleging that the government failed to ensure measures to check corruption as suggested by the bank in Sept.
The government, however, continued rejecting the allegation of corruption in the project and sometimes even backed the people accused of being involved with corruption in the project.
Later, it announced to build the bridge with own funds and also opened bank accounts for raising funds from home and abroad for building the bridge.
Finally, Information and Communications Technology Minister Syed Abul Hossain, who was the Communications Minister at the time the World Bank had come up with the allegation of corruption, resigned in July this year.
Former Secretary of the Bridges Division Mosharraf Hossain was sent on leave. Rumours ran rife in the days after the Eid that the next person set to stand down is Advisor Mashiur.
"If my resignation resolves the complexity over the $ 2.9 billion loan, then why once, I will resign 10 times if needed," Mashiur had told journalists in front of his official Hare Road residence on Sunday.
"If the government and the Prime Minister believe I am not trustworthy, I will resign," he added.
"But if there are any accusations, then the proofs of them have to be presented and I will have to be given the scope to defend myself."
Cabinet Secretary Mohammed Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said Mashiur was attending the Cabinet meeting on Monday. He was said to have met the Prime Minister separately later.
The World Bank was to fund $ 1.2 billion for the six-kilometre bridge that was estimated to cost $ 2.9 billion. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) were supposed to fund most of the remaining budget.
Even though the World Bank cancelled their funding, ADB and JICA had extended the deadline for their deals to Aug 31. So, the government will have to reach a resolution with the World Bank before that.