Those counties which were liberated from colonial rule through struggle at the cost of millions of lives or those countries where people rose against oppressive and corrupt regimes are expected to be reasonably free from corruption and the people of those countries generally endeavour to establish the lofty ideals for which they fought. Perhaps, the framers of our constitution apprehended something different, otherwise why should our constitution adopt a unique provision as one of the Fundamental Principles of State Policy, at Article 20(2), which states “The State shall endeavour to create conditions in which, as a general principle, persons shall not be able to enjoy unearned incomes…”

Malaysia is waiting for a response from the government of Bangladesh over a $ 2.3 billion loan proposal to build the Padma bridge, says a Malaysian prime minister’s special envoy.

I have written and spoken a lot on the issue of the Padma bridge and my biases are well known. I continue to believe that the design, financing and implementation plan agreed by the government of Bangladesh with the international consortium of donors led by the World Bank is the first best option.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday told parliament that the government would build the Padma bridge with domestic funds keeping the present design intact.

The Panel has reviewed the FIR in accordance with the mandate received from the World Bank and agreed with the Government of Bangladesh to assess the investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh (ACC) into allegations of corruption in the Padma Bridge Project and to advise the World Bank on the completeness, correctness, transparency, adequacy and fairness of the investigation.

Though the World Bank has finally agreed to revive its $1.2 billion funding for the much-hyped Padma bridge project, economists say the Padma episode has weakened Bangladesh's position and the accountability issue will apparently become more important for any foreign-aided project in the future. They, however, say it needs to be ensured so that this mega project does not face further delay due to investigation into the so-called graft.

A Romanian folklore has it that a master builder once decided to sacrifice the first woman who would bring food to the building site. All but one of his men broke their promise and tipped their wives in advance.

The World Bank has cancelled the loan for the construction work of Padma bridge on allegation of corruption in Bangladesh. The party in power led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refuses to accept such an allegation, saying it is baseless and unfounded. Recently, China has built the world's longest bridge on sea spanning over 26 miles at a cost of 1.6 billion dollars.

Why does our government have to beg for the construction of Padma Bridge? Padma Bridge when constructed will be a prestigious project and world heritage.

On June 29, the World Bank cancelled its $1.2 billion credit in support of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project, saying that it had found evidence of high-level corruption among government public officials and others

Criticising the World Bank's cancellation of the Padma bridge loan over corruption allegations, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government would not take any blame for something it had not done. “I am confident that we did nothing wrong. We will not accept any calumny.

The government will build the Padma bridge with its own funds and construction work will begin in the current fiscal year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced in parliament yesterday.

It is a sad state of affairs when an entire nation has to suffer for the actions of just a few. The World Bank has claimed to have found credible evidence of a high-level corruption conspiracy among selected government officials involved in the Padma Bridge project.

We have been discussing issues surrounding the construction of Padma Bridge over the last four years. In fact, the demand for the construction of Padma Bridge grew stronger in 1990s when it became evident that construction of Jamuna Bridge was possible.

The World Bank has finally cancelled the assistance agreement for construction of the Padma Bridge. Our worst apprehension has come true. What has happened is really very unfortunate. It is doubly embarrassing because of the alleged reason for cancellation of the agreement. Padma Multipurpose Bridge is a key infrastructural installation which is required for an accelerated and balanced development of Bangladesh.

In the wake of the World Bank's (WB) cancellation of its contract with the Government of Bangladesh for $1.2 billion credit for the Padma Bridge, the government faces an acid-test which like any challenge in life can be converted into opportunity.

The World Bank has cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project with immediate effect, saying it has proof of corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and individuals.

We all could feel what was coming -- cancellation of the Padma Bridge loan. But none of us probably sensed it could come in such a damning way with so much of economic and political ramifications. Bangladesh has never in its lifetime faced such a situation nor has the World Bank since its birth in 1944 cancelled a single infrastructure project of such size because of 'credible evidence corroborated by a variety of sources which points to a high-level corruption conspiracy'.

Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia held Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family's "corruption" responsible for the World Bank's cancellation of Padma bridge funding. She made the allegation in Chittagong yesterday on the occasion of distributing relief among landslide and flood victims at Swadhinata Park under Chandgaon Police Station. The BNP chairperson said this government in its election manifesto had pledged to construct the bridge but its ministers opted for demanding commission before the work could start.

Cancellation of World Bank funding for the Padma bridge project over alleged corruption in it would have a negative impact on the global donors' perception of Bangladesh. And it would put to question credibility of the government's project implementation process, some economists said yesterday. Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud said, “The government must now come out with a clear, credible and transparent account of what has happened, just a blame game will not do.”