Padma Bridge must become a reality

Nur Jahan, Chittagong

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain is indeed a very cool person. When communication all over the country fell apart, people's sufferings knew no bounds and they were demonstrating against him demanding his resignation, he smilingly faced the camera as if nothing had happened. Now the country is rocking under the allegations of corruption in the bidding process of the Padma Bridge project. The World Bank has temporarily halted its $1.2 billion loan and two other financiers, Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have also withheld funding for the bridge. So, the construction of the much-awaited Padma Bridge has become uncertain. Communications Minister Abul Hossain ruled out corruption in the $2.97 billion Padma Multipurpose Bridge project and termed it as 'fictitious'. The allegation is of a very serious nature which cannot be taken lightly and the government must prove that there was no corruption in the bidding process. It is reported that 90% people of Bangladesh want communications Minister Abul Hossain to resign. But he is adamant; he has clearly said that he will not resign until he is asked to do so. Maybe he is sure that he will not be asked to resign. In other countries, ministers resign when voices are raised against them. But alas! We cannot expect this from our ministers.