Staff Reporter :
Although the World Bank had accused Bangladesh for ‘corruption conspiracy’ in constructing Padma Bridge, the country has no scope to file any case against the global lender in this connection.
“The WB is not above the law. But as per the contract, Bangladesh Government cannot file any case against the bank, because Bangladesh is a signing authority. However, the aggrieved persons, who had to bear personal loss, can take legal advice to file compensation suit against the WB,” Law, Minister Advocate Anisul Haq said on Tuesday.
The Minister was talking at “meet the press” organized by Law Reporters Forum at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city’s Segun Bagicha.
“In 2012, the ACC had initiated an investigation after a newspaper ran report about the corruption conspiracy for getting construction contract of the Padma Bridge. At that time, the WB said it would supply ACC some information about the matter. But the ACC should file a case in this connection. The WB also said the then Communication Minister Abul Hossain, former Setu Division Secretary Mosarraf Hossain and some other officials of the same ministry were behind the conspiracy of corruption.”
Anisul Haq, who was Legal Adviser of Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC] at that time, had a meeting with three WB representatives where former ACC Chairman Golam Rahman, Md Badiuzzaman [next chairman] and Shahabuddin Chuppu tok part.
Referring the meeting, he further said: “One of them had demanded in the meeting to make Abul Hossain an accused in the case filed by ACC. He also suggested to take Abul Hossain to remand for getting actual information.”
“The ACC asked them whether they [WB] had enough evidences in this regard, except the papers submitted to the ACC. In response, they said no. As per their provided documents, it was seen that four persons met Abul Hossain. But they did not hold any talk about monetary transaction. At one stage, the WB had expressed desire to conduct investigation along with ACC. But the WB was refused due to absence of legal option to conduct investigation by any foreign agency in Bangladesh. If it is done, it would not possible to file any case as per existing law,” the Minister said.
“In this situation, the WB representatives told us that no fund would be given to Bangladesh. They further proposed to keep a WB squad with ACC investigation team. It was also rejected due to absence of legal option… One of the WB representatives was chief prosecutor of International Criminal Court José Antonio Ocampo Gaviria, who was later accused in a criminal case.
“So far as I know, the statements of these witnesses are now in the hands of ACC. The ACC should make the documents public,” he said.
In contrary, the ACC proposed the WB to keep a lobbyist team in touch with ACC for getting regular update of investigation. The WB agreed and later sent a three-member team of experts where Ocampo and a member of Hong Kong ACC were included.
