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Messy affair

Mashiur appears dodgy about his leave; tells of WB spy network; seeks comfort from media

Staff Correspondent
Mashiur Rahman, the embattled economic affairs adviser to the prime minister, yesterday brought allegations of spying against the World Bank apparently in retaliation for the global lender's corruption charges against him and the government.
He claimed the WB charges were based on information provided by its
spies , adding, if names of the spies are disclosed, the country's reputation will be restored."
"The spy network of the World Bank is unfair," Rahman told reporters at his Minto Road residence in the capital. He also repeatedly refuted speculations that he had gone on leave.
He appealed to the media to be
FROM PAGE 1 sympathetic to him as he suspected that anything bad might happen to him due to the immense pressure on him.
In the last several weeks, sources in the government and the WB hinted that Rahman was the last remaining obstacle to the revival of the WB loan for the Padma bridge project.
Rahman said he had unearthed the "spying" after he had received some emails, which might be sent by some spies. "But I did not want to make public the plot without informing the organisation, which will lend money for the project. It would not be wise to make the conspiracy public before informing the World Bank about it."
He claimed the WB employed some people of the country as "spies", who have secretly provided information to it. But the information they have supplied was not authentic and had no grounds.
"These spies have advised the World Bank on what to do. As these spies gave advice, the World Bank said: 'You are not being able to give any evidence or witness of corruption and you are only saying that corruption has taken place here and there'.
"In reply, the spies told the World Bank that nobody leaves a mark in this type of corruption. As you cannot do anything about it, stop opening the bidding," said Rahman quoting the emails.
He said the government had sent all the pieces of information related to the tender to the World Bank 18 months ago, but they have not given any opinion in this regard. It only gave opinion about a Canadian firm.
He further said the Canadian firm was not the lowest bidder, but the World Bank had suggested a way to the government before Bangladesh sent any assessment to it.
"The Canadian firm became the lowest bidder according to their suggestion, " said the adviser.
"When the Canadian firm became the lowest bidder, their local sources told the World Bank that if the Canadian firm gets the job, the global lender would not be able to stop corruption in the Padma bridge project."
Rahman alleged many "spies" visited Washington and some were also sent to Bangladesh from Washington.
The adviser added he spoke to the lenders, including the World Bank, last Friday about the "conspiracy". "I told them it was illegal."
He however said he did not think the Bank would be able to disclose the names of its "spies". "It will have to protect them. If it discloses their names then it will not get any
secret cooperation in future.
"So, the World Bank is putting pressure on us."
He said the WB says if he resigned, work on the Padma bridge would begin. "But I have examined the agreements between the government and the Bank. They have not given consent to any proposals sent to them.
"The work of the Padma bridge cannot be started during the remaining tenure of the government with finance from the World Bank. I suspect the Bank will not be able to provide the financing for the bridge easily."
Rahman went on to say that speculations in the media about his leave had virtually sent him to a gulag camp of the formerSoviet Union.
The gulag was a government agency and was recognised as a major instrument of political repression during the Soviet era.
"I want your sympathy. Please save my life. Anyone might suffer a heart failure under such pressure. I am still living with your sympathy and I want this sympathy to continue," he pleaded with the media.
Earlier on Monday, Rahman skipped the regular cabinet and purchase committee meetings, which only fuelled the speculations about his leave further.
"The working committee meeting of the Awami League discussed me. I did not go to the cabinet and purchase committee meetings because my presence could have spurred the excitement further. I did not go there to avoid the excitement."
He said the media should urge the WB to disclose the names of its "spies" and give those names to the government to save the country from a bad reputation.
Bangladesh's global repute will increase if the WB discloses their names and what type of information they have supplied, he observed.
Rahman said he had not said that he would go on leave. "Those who will take the decision about my leave have alsonotsaidso."
The adviser also said he did not know who had bid for the contracts of the bridge.
He added he had forwarded the emails, which have been sent by unidentified senders, to the finance minister. It is now up to the government to decide about publishing those, he said.
The WB should disclose the names of the people who are engaged in the propaganda and tarnishing the image of the country, he added.
He, however, said disclosure of emails should not be seen as a condition for him to go on leave.
"I said my leave is less important. The country's interests and image are the most important here. I will
leave if my departure upholds the country's interests and image. It will depend on the disclosure by the World Bank about its [spying] activities."
The WB cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project on June 29, saying it had evidence of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and private individuals.