Yunus denies lobbying WB against Padma Bridge funding

FE ReportNobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus who is Founder of Grameen Bank and Chairman, Younus Centre, has strongly refuted the allegation, made against him by the government at its highest level, about his "lobbying" the World Bank against funding the Padma Bridge project. In a statement released by Yunus Centre in Dhaka, Prof Yunus said, as someone who has dedicated his life to build programmes to help the Bangladesh, he has been a "strong supporter" of building the bridge over the Padma that would bring immense benefits to the millions of people in the country. Prof Yunus who is now in Moscow where he is attending the Russian Social Business Forum at the invitation of Elvia Nabiullana, the Russian Minister for Economic Development and Trade, sent Friday a statement to Yunus Centre in Dhaka for release to the media in response to reports appearing in Friday's issue of the country's newspapers, mentioning the allegation made against him as being responsible for putting on hold the release of fund by the World Bank for the Padma Bridge project. His statement runs as follows: "News publications have recently been reporting allegations made by various quarters that I have lobbied the World Bank against funding the Padma Bridge project. Honourable Finance Minister dismissed such allegations to the press. "Today, it has been reported in newspapers that the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made the same allegation at an Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting. "I would like to categorically state that this allegation is completely untrue and without basis. The building of the Padma Bridge has been a dream of all Bangladeshi people for many, many years. "As someone who has dedicated his life to build programmes to help the people of Bangladesh, I have been a strong supporter of the building of this bridge that would bring countless benefits to the millions of people in the country. It is totally contrary to my life's work and belief to think of anything that might even remotely harm this development initiative. In everything I do, my country's interest remains to be my supreme consideration. The same is true about Padma Bridge, which is without doubt is a historical development initiative. Also, it is simply preposterous to suggest that an institution like World Bank will act so drastically because someone asked it to do so. "I hope that the issues that are holding up the building of the bridge can be resolved as soon as possible."