Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina World Bank stopped financing Padma Bridge due to external pressure: Sheikh Hasina
Dhaka, May 2: In a meeting with the executive directors of the World Bank at its headquarters, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina claimed that the World Bank had stopped financing the Padma Bridge due to external pressure, alleging corruption.
Sheikh Hasina made this demand in an informal exchange meeting with the board of executive directors of the organization at the World Bank headquarters in Washington on Monday (01 May) local time.
The Prime Minister said, "I am disappointed, because of external pressure, the World Bank withdrew from financing very important projects like the Padma Bridge."
Urging to look into the future of the partnership between Bangladesh and the World Bank, the Prime Minister said, "We now want to look into the future of our partnership."
Urging the World Bank to remain focused on its core objectives, she said, "The World Bank must remain focused on its core objectives of poverty alleviation and development financing."
Appreciating the World Bank's partnership in the development progress of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, "Currently, the World Bank has 53 different projects worth 15 billion dollars in Bangladesh. This is part of the 39 billion US dollars in grants and loans provided by the World Bank so far."
Sheikh Hasina said, "The current situation indicates the opportunity and capacity of our economy to grow. Bangladesh has never defaulted or fallen into the so-called 'debt trap'."
She said, "Construction of 6.1 km Padma multipurpose bridge with our own financing and technology resources is a sign of our economic capability."
Highlighting the World Bank's contribution in building Digital Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, "My government has kept its promise to the people by building 'Digital Bangladesh' by 2021. The World Bank was actively involved in Bangladesh's transformation into Digital Bangladesh."
Calling on international organizations including the World Bank to continue cooperation in building 'Smart Bangladesh', Sheikh Hasina said, "The government has set the next goal of building a knowledge-based 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. We call on our development partners, including the World Bank, to continue investing in our digital and physical infrastructure.”
She said, "We also want international cooperation in trade diversification, investment promotion and domestic resource generation."
The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh will continue its economic diplomacy based on the foreign policy of 'friendship with all, enmity with none'.
