Decision on probe into Padma Bridgebidding allegation soon : Muhith

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FE Report Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Sunday that the government was yet to decide whether it should investigate into the allegations of corruption in the bidding process of the Padma Bridge. "The World Bank (WB) has asked us to investigate into the alleged irregularities in Padma Bridge bidding," Muhith told reporters after a meeting held at the Cabinet Division. "We will decide soon whether we should go for investigation or not," he added. Sources said, Muhith was scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday evening at the Prime Minister's Office to discuss the Padma Bridge issue in totality and decide the next course of action of the government, particularly on launching probe into corruption allegation. Meanwhile, a top official in the finance ministry said the WB has recently asked the government to take necessary actions relating to corruption allegations about in the project's tendering process to get the pledged fund from the Bank. The Padma Bridge project will need $2.9 billion. The WB Board approved $1.2 billion and committed to provide an extra $300 million later. Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Japan are other financers of the Padma Bridge project. Earlier this year, the government sent a list of five pre-qualified bidders for consultancy job to the WB for its approval. Of the five, the lowest bidder was a Canadian company, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. The Canadian authorities are investigating corruption charges against SNC-Lavalin Group Inc following a WB request. Asked, Muhith said the government needs the pledged fund from the WB to implement the project. "Of course, we need the fund from the WB as the pledged $1.2 billion is a large amount," Muhith told the reporters. He said, sometimes vested quarters make fake allegation.