Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday observed that those who had opposed the Padma Bridge construction are enemies of the country and the nation, and they must be identified.
During the hearing on a rule the High Court Bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo said, “The Padma Bridge is our national asset. It is our pride. If there is no conspiracy, why was the World Bank financing for construction of Padma Bridge stopped? Those, who were against the Padma Bridge and such development, are enemy of the country and the nation. They need to be identified.”
The court also said, “The conspirators are anti-national, we have to find out them.”
Another High Court Bench issued the rule on a Suo Moto (voluntary) move about five years ago over formation of an enquiry commission to identify the “conspirators who made up false stories” over corruption involving the Padma Bridge project.
The court, however, set June 28, 2022 (Tuesday) for further hearing and passing order on the rule, said Deputy Attorney General A K M Amin Uddin Manik who had recently mentioned the rule in the court for hearing.
On February 15, 2017, the HC issued the rule asking the concerned bodies of the government to explain in two weeks as to why they should not be directed to form an enquiry commission to identify the “real culprits who were behind connection and conspiracy against the nation by creating false stories of corruption” in the Padma Bridge construction project.
It also wanted to know in the rule as to why the respondents should not be directed to bring those who were behind such stories to justice.
The then HC Bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah had issued the rule following media reports citing a Canadian court’s decision to acquit all the three accused of corruption conspiracy.
The World Bank, the then main financier of the project, raised the allegation in 2011 and eventually withdrew them from the project. Later, Canadian police sued some top officials of SNC-Lavalin, a Canadian construction firm.
Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Canada after the trial acquitted the accused from all the charges at prosecution’s request terming the allegation as being gossip and rumour.
The whole episode of corruption and allegations are now found to have been creation of a certain quarter who has tarnished the image of the nation internationally and also tried to jeopardise development work of the country. This quarter also acted against the sovereignty of the nation which is required to be unearthed and the person responsible be brought to justice, said the rule issuing HC Bench.
