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Padma Financing

WB postpones team's visit

Staff Correspondent
The World Bank has postponed sending a team to Dhaka to formulate a framework of new arrangements to implement the Padma bridge project.
The team was scheduled to arrive here today.
In a statement on Wednesday, the WB for the second time reminded the government that it would finance the project if the implementation of all the measures it asked for is satisfactory.
The statement came five days after the global lender announced its reengagement in the project and just one day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made some remarks in New York on WB's return to the project.
The WB cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project in June, saying it had proof
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of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and private individuals.
The team led by WB Director Jack Stein was scheduled to come to Bangladesh to make arrangements anew for the bridge and an investigation into the corruption allegation.
A finance ministry official said the postponement was made suddenly but no reason was shown.
However, different government officials say they think that the PM's remarks in New York on the issue may have created some complexities.
The WB changed the schedule but was yet to give the new date, another government official said.
He said two missions would come -- one to talk to the government and the cofinanciers on the new implementation arrangements and another to talk to the Anti-Corruption
Commission on its investigation into the graft allegation.
Meanwhile, a two-member delegation of the Asian Development Bank has arrived in Dhaka, sources said. Another team of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is also likely to arrive in Dhaka in a couple of days.
The ADB country director and the Jica resident representative yesterday held a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his residence.
A finance ministry official said ADB and Jica jointly presented before the finance minister what would be the matrix for the new arrangements.
However, following the meeting neither the finance minister nor any officials said anything to the journalists waiting outside.
ADB has extended its loan effectuation deadline that expired yesterday until December21.