Readers Respond
Here are some comments that came in response to Sunday's The Daily Star report headlined “Private-public fund to build it.”
Gopal Sengupta
Congrats! We must go ahead without such donor funding. The government must welcome and encourage public-private partnership for betterment of our development activities. Manzoor Ashraf
Building this bridge will not be viable under PPP since it will not generate enough revenue. Secondly, World Bank's fund given to Bangladesh for building this bridge cannot be channeled to other projects. S Rahman
I have worked for donors for 30 years. I know well how donors use rhetoric and various tactics for their self-interest. I am not saying we are a clean country either. But World Bank must come forward with clear statement of corruption which they have not done. Rawshan Iajdani
Implementing the project with fresh fund is easy. The authorities will do the feasibility study, design new structure, negotiate the compensation period, arrange fund from financial institutions and finally start constructing the bridge. It may take another three years. Instead of talking too much, the government must show its seriousness in punishing the culprits and bringing World Bank's confidence back so that they release the fund quickly. Replacing the minister was the right step and now the government should let the new minister work. Amdem
It may be a wishful thinking for Bangladesh to construct Padma Bridge under PPP. Bangladesh is already in serious financial trouble-- the remittance flow has reduced, tax collection is not satisfactory. Moreover, there is another project waiting for PPP investment- the Bangabandhu International Airport. We do not understand from where the money will come. Nasirullah Mridha
If we can implement a project under PPP, why should we go to the World Bank? We want to see concrete measures taken by the government. Anonymous
Changing the minister does not absolve the government of corruption. And it will not change the mind of World Bank. Abdul Aziz Mir
Padma Bridge was the dream of the people of greater Faridpur and Barisal. But this is now going to be a reality, people are waiting for the bridge to be built. Dr. Nazmul Haq
The World Bank lends money on behalf of the members of this organisation to other members of this entity, presumably at lower interest rate than available in commercial markets. It is not an investigating agency. It does not have the power or mandate to investigate corruption allegations. It is incumbent on the part of the government to investigate the charge and take necessary action. Deep Purple Blue
If Sheikh Hasina was not convinced of Abul's corruption, then why did she remove him from the communications ministry? Fida Likhon
Now, the World Bank (WB) should take the challenge of Sheikh Hasina and prove the corruption allegations it made. If WB cannot prove it, it will mean that it has done dirty politics. We want to see whether Sheikh Hasina or WB is truthful. Eddo Brandis
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now treating the World Bank as her opposition party. But she has already taken the World Bank's allegation into account by removing the Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain. Jumana Sarwar
The World Bank is not an investigation agency. They can only raise their concern, the rest is the PM's job as the leader of the country. What is disturbing is the PM's continuous refusal to accept the corruption charge and the ineptness of her administration.
Congrats! We must go ahead without such donor funding. The government must welcome and encourage public-private partnership for betterment of our development activities. Manzoor Ashraf
Building this bridge will not be viable under PPP since it will not generate enough revenue. Secondly, World Bank's fund given to Bangladesh for building this bridge cannot be channeled to other projects. S Rahman
I have worked for donors for 30 years. I know well how donors use rhetoric and various tactics for their self-interest. I am not saying we are a clean country either. But World Bank must come forward with clear statement of corruption which they have not done. Rawshan Iajdani
Implementing the project with fresh fund is easy. The authorities will do the feasibility study, design new structure, negotiate the compensation period, arrange fund from financial institutions and finally start constructing the bridge. It may take another three years. Instead of talking too much, the government must show its seriousness in punishing the culprits and bringing World Bank's confidence back so that they release the fund quickly. Replacing the minister was the right step and now the government should let the new minister work. Amdem
It may be a wishful thinking for Bangladesh to construct Padma Bridge under PPP. Bangladesh is already in serious financial trouble-- the remittance flow has reduced, tax collection is not satisfactory. Moreover, there is another project waiting for PPP investment- the Bangabandhu International Airport. We do not understand from where the money will come. Nasirullah Mridha
If we can implement a project under PPP, why should we go to the World Bank? We want to see concrete measures taken by the government. Anonymous
Changing the minister does not absolve the government of corruption. And it will not change the mind of World Bank. Abdul Aziz Mir
Padma Bridge was the dream of the people of greater Faridpur and Barisal. But this is now going to be a reality, people are waiting for the bridge to be built. Dr. Nazmul Haq
The World Bank lends money on behalf of the members of this organisation to other members of this entity, presumably at lower interest rate than available in commercial markets. It is not an investigating agency. It does not have the power or mandate to investigate corruption allegations. It is incumbent on the part of the government to investigate the charge and take necessary action. Deep Purple Blue
If Sheikh Hasina was not convinced of Abul's corruption, then why did she remove him from the communications ministry? Fida Likhon
Now, the World Bank (WB) should take the challenge of Sheikh Hasina and prove the corruption allegations it made. If WB cannot prove it, it will mean that it has done dirty politics. We want to see whether Sheikh Hasina or WB is truthful. Eddo Brandis
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now treating the World Bank as her opposition party. But she has already taken the World Bank's allegation into account by removing the Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain. Jumana Sarwar
The World Bank is not an investigation agency. They can only raise their concern, the rest is the PM's job as the leader of the country. What is disturbing is the PM's continuous refusal to accept the corruption charge and the ineptness of her administration.
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