AL demands revision of WB immunity bill

The main opposition Awami League (AL) yesterday demanded revision of the bill on granting immunity to the World Bank so that that institution enjoys immunity from judicial proceeding by the state only, not individuals.

AL lawmakers for the first time attending a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the finance ministry yesterday said this bill should be revised in the same line with another bill concerning the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Committee Chairman Mushfiqur Rahman of BNP chaired the meeting that reviewed the bill placed in parliament on October 31 amid widespread criticism by the opposition political parties, civil society, and rights groups.

AL leaders Shah AMS Kibria and M Saidul Haq presented their arguments at yesterday meeting while the committee decided to bring in some linguistic changes in the bill and referred it to the next committee meeting for approval.

"No country in the world has given such immunity to the World Bank (WB) as the proposed bill outlines," Kibria, also a former finance minister, told journalists after the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

"The language of the bill through which the ADB was given immunity was very different from the one being offered to the World Bank."

The 1973 immunity given to the ADB bars the state from prosecuting the bank or its staff. However, it does not give immunity to the bank from legal proceedings by individuals. The proposed bill bars individuals from seeking legal help against the WB.

The issue of granting immunity to the Bretton Woods institution emerged after a discharged staff member of the WB Dhaka office had sued the bank.

Kibria said the Awami League would see the bill after the committee brings amendments in it. "Then we will decide whether we would support it."

The committee chairman said the committee members have proposed some linguistic changes in the bill. They also demanded discussion on the bill in presence of Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman who was not present at yesterday's meeting.

"We will see if this bill can be approved in the next meeting," Mushfiqur added.