Went ahead though adviser and minister opposed: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she went for constructing the Padma Bridge with domestic resources defying strong opposition from her finance minister and an adviser.

“My finance minister showed strong dissent. He told me that it [bridge construction] couldn't be done without the World Bank's financing. My adviser had also told me the same thing,” she said at a conference of public university teachers at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. 

The PM said when the World Bank withdrew its financing bringing false allegations just to make sure that an individual got back the managing director post of Grameen Bank, she took it as a challenge and decided to build the bridge with domestic resources. 

“I told my minister and adviser why don't we go for constructing the bridge with our own resources. If need be, we'll change the design but we'll do it with our own money.”

Without naming the adviser, Hasina said the whole country was with her, but the finance minister and the adviser opposed the decision at that time. 

“We're now constructing the Padma Bridge with our own money. This single decision has changed Bangladesh's image.” 

The PM said her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul had to endure repression for this bridge. “But we never bowed to anyone.” 

Hasina said she had asked the officials concerned to send letters to World Bank seeking concrete evidence of the alleged corruption, but it failed to provide the government with any proof.

She said people have to learn how to hold their heads high all the time.

The PM, also the Awami League president, called upon people to cast their votes in favour of her party in the next national election to continue the trend of development.

Briefly describing various development programmes in the education sector, she said it would not be possible to make the country free from hunger and poverty without having an educated nation. “That's why we always give priority to education.”

She urged the authorities concerned to look into the quality and standard of education at private universities.

Hasina mentioned that the government put emphasis on modern technology-based education and vocational training. 

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan and Education Secretary Sohrab Hossain also spoke at the programme, chaired by Bangladesh University Teachers Federation President ASM Maksud Kamal.