NRBs demonstrate at WB HQs

Lovlu Ansar
bdnews24.com New York Correspondent

Washington DC, Jul 12 Expatriate Bangladeshis have demonstrated in front of the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC demanding withdrawal of its 'imaginary' corruption allegation and reconsider its loan cancellation decision to resume funding for the Padma bridge project.

The demonstration continued for around four hours from 12pm to 4pm local time on Wednesday (Bangladesh time 2am, Thursday) and they handed over a memorandum addressing the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

They termed the World Bank decision a 'cruel conduct' against 160 million people of Bangladesh and said 'how corruption can happen in a project where not a single penny has been disbursed'.

Some professionals and social workers joined the rally with members of the Awami League (AL) and its front organisations.

They bitterly criticised the WB for the decision and have alleged that the global lending agency has been dragged into a 'conspiracy' hatched by a quarter who were 'spending huge amount' to foil Bangladesh's war crimes trial.

Members of the Awami League from US states of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Michigan camje to join the demonstration.

They were carrying different placards that read, 'World Bank fund is our rights as a member', 'World Bank shall review Padma bridge loan cancellation', 'Padma bridge is for nation's development', Bangladesh wants loan, not infringement of sovereignty', 'Credit is our right – not favour', 'World Bank must review Padma bridge loan cancellation' and chanted slogans.

After the demonstration they handed over memorandum titled 'World Bank (WB) humiliated 160 Million people of Bangladesh based on assumption and without credible evidences' addressing the WB President. A WB official on behalf of the President Jim Yong Kim accepted the memorandum, AL US chapter President Siddiqur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

The memorandum read, "We demand that WB revisit their decision … on refinancing the PBMP [Padma bridge project] … more importantly withdraw their uncorroborated comments on corruption … and wait for the completion of Bangladesh and Canadian effort to unearth the charges of corruption."

WB's Transport and Communications affairs Advisor Dr Anwarul Karim told bdnews24.com that such a demonstration in front of the WB headquarters by the expatriates from a single country was not seen in recent past.

The WB on Jun 29 cancelled its promised $1.2 billion fund for the $ 2.9 billion Padma bridge project alleging corruption.

After this Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced to construct Bangladesh's biggest infrastructure project with own fund and outlined the strategy in the Parliament. The cabinet on Monday took a decision to this end.

Only President can send me out: BUET VC

Dhaka, Jul 11 In the backdrop of continuous protests by the teachers and students of the Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET), the Vice-Chancellor said on Wednesday that he would step down only if the President asks him to do so.

"I don't have the authority to resign. The President appointed me. I will step down only if he wants," Prof S M Nazrul Islam told bdnews24.com.

His remarks came following a syndicate meeting on Wednesday where the BUET authorities decided to request the government to form a judicial committee to probe allegations against him and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

The demonstrating teachers, however, said they would continue with their protests.

The emergency syndicate meeting was held as 24 teachers, including chairmen of 16 departments and deans of five faculties resigned from their administrative posts on Wednesday afternoon demanding removal of the Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Row over VC, Pro-VC: 25 Buet teachers resign

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 Twenty-five teachers of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) resigned from their academic posts on Wednesday as their demand for removal of its vice chancellor and Pro-VC went unheeded.

Those who quit are deans of five faculties, directors of three institutes, and 17 departmental heads.

Earlier in the morning, the teachers, a section of stuff and few students of Bute were staging a sit-in for indefinite period in front of the vice-chancellor's office demanding immediate resignation of the VC and Pro-VC.

On Tuesday, Buet authorities announced a 44-day closure of the institution from today as the Buet Teachers' Association gave an ultimatum demanding their resignation by Saturday.

Prof Dr Mujibor Rahman, president of the association, told The Daily Star on Wednesday that they would continue their movement until the removal of the VC and Pro-VC.

A number of students of the institution expressed their solidarity with the agitating teachers and along with them the teachers brought out several processions on the campus to press their 16-point demand.

The teachers' association has been agitating for several months demanding removal of the VC and Pro-VC for their alleged involvement in irregularities

PM again denies graft in Padma bridge

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina claimed on Wednesday that her government was not involved with any corruption relating to the Padma bridge project.

Hasina said how the World Bank could blame the government when the global lender follows its lending rules strictly.

The PM said this while speaking as the chief guest at the Awami Swechchhasebak League's national council at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The premier again reiterated her government's stance on constructing the bridge with own funds adding that she will not seek financial aid from any donor agencies for implementing the project.

“If any donor wants to help us in this regard, then we will consider it,” she said.

On June 30, the World Bank has cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project, saying it has proof of corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and individuals.

WB will eventually return: Suranjit

Dhaka, Jul 11 The World Bank will eventually 'return' to fund the proposed Padma bridge project at a time 'convenient' for them, minister without portfolio, Suranjit Sengupta, has said.

"We need assistance of all donors. The bridge will be constructed with the help of ADB, IDB and JICA," said Suranjit at a discussion held at the Public Library on Wednesday.

"We want to maintain good terms with all. The World Bank will also come back to us at a time suitable for them," he added.

Suranjit said that the World Bank's decision to cancel the deal to fund the project proved good for the people of the country. He, however, did not elaborate his contention.

The World Bank cancelled its contract to provide $1.2-billion loan to the $2.9-billion project saying it had credible evidence of corruption in the project. Another major financier of the project Asian Development Bank also followed the global lender by cancelling its contract to giving $610 million for the project.

Following the World Bank's withdrawal from the project, Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hasina announced that the bridge would be built with own money. The Cabinet took a decision in this regard on Monday.

Opposition BNP, however, has been campaigning that the government's plan to construct the bridge was not realistic.

Discarding the opposition's criticism, Suranjit said they all should come together for a national cause like construction of the Padma bridge.

The discussion faced a setback in the beginning as some people objected to it being held under the banner of the Muktijoddha Projonmo League, claiming them were the real leaders of the League.

"Muktijoddha Projonmo League's real President is Asaduzzaman Durjoy and General Secretary Obaidul Islam," said Shahidul Islam Nayeem identifying himself as the Organising Secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan (South) unit of the organisation.

"We objected as they organised the programme under our banner," he added.
Later, the discussion began after tearing off part of the banner showing the name of the organisation holding the programme.

A man, Arun Sarker, presided over the meeting identifying himself as the Adviser of the Muktijoddha Projonmo Leageu. World University Vice Chancellor Abdul Mannan Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.

Mozena lauds Bangladesh for women's participation in politics

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 US Ambassador Dan W Mozena said on Wednesday that America can learn much from the way Bangladesh has increased women’s participation in politics.

“I hope America will learn lessons from Bangladesh as the country has done much for the advancement of the political engagement of women,” he said while talking to journalists after the South Asia Women Parliamentarians Conference at a city hotel.

The four-day conference was organised by the Asia Foundation.

While talking on the number of women parliamentarians in the USA, he said he does not know the exact figure. “But it is fewer than in Bangladesh,” he added.

The ambassador said “Though my boss is Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, I think there is much to learn from Bangladesh.”

Padma bridge with local fund ‘unrealistic’: Fakhrul

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 Terming the government decision to construct Padma bridge with local fund ‘unrealistic’, opposition BNP on Wednesday said finding no other way the government is now making different types of statements only for their own safeguard.

“In fact the Awami League will not be able to construct the bridge. Now they are saying everything only to defend themselves,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

He said the government at one hand said it will talk to the World Bank, while on the other, it will construct the bridge with local fund. Few days ago the government also showed interest for Malaysia’s investment, he added.

Mirza Fakhrul said, “World Bank abandoned the Padma bridge project due to corruption of the government.”

Now constructing the bridge will get highest priority to the BNP. It will construct two bridges on Padma river if voted to power, he told reporters after visiting the grave of the party founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.

“The Padma bridge project will get highest priority if BNP is voted to power and we will construct the bridge with World Bank and other donor agencies loan,” the BNP leader said.

Mirza Fakhrul visited grave of Ziaur Rahman to pay tribute to him along with leaders of BNP and its front and associate bodies who recently were released from the jail.

BNP standing committee members MK Anwar, Nazrul Islam Khan, vice-chairmen Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and president and general secretaries of different front and associate bodies were present.