WB panel meeting with ACC ends without any breakthrough

 

In this December 1 photo, a World Bank team arrives at Anti-Corruption Commission's head office in the capital to hold a meeting on the anti-graft body's progress in investigations into the Padma bridge project corruption.

The meeting between the visiting external panel of the World Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission ended Wednesday afternoon without any breakthrough.
The WB panel today sat with the graft watchdog to reach a consensus on the names of persons to be included in the enquiry report on corruption allegations in the Padma bridge project.
Emerging from the meeting, Ellen Goldstein, WB country director for Bangladesh, told the media, “We continue to have some unresolved issues and as a result we are going for some internal consultations now.”
“It is possible that we will be coming back today for further discussions,” Goldstein added.
Earlier around 3:40pm, the team reached the ACC office at Segunbagicha for the meeting.
The meeting between the WB team and the graft watchdog ended inconclusively on Tuesday, as the panel was unhappy at the commission's bid to drop the name of ex-communications minister Syed Abul Hossain from the draft enquiry report.
Sources in the ACC said the two sides had a difference of opinion over the draft enquiry report, as the ACC dropped some names, including that of Abul Hossain, though the WB gave sufficient evidence of corruption against him along with others.
The WB cancelled its $1.2 billion funding on June 29, saying it had proof of a "corruption conspiracy" involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals.
The global lender on September 21 decided to revive the loan after the Bangladesh government agreed to the WB's terms and conditions.