WB to release initial $1.2b for Padma Bridge by Jan

WB Country Director Ellen Goldstein calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban in the city yesterday. Photo: PMO

The World Bank (WB) will release its an initial $1.2 billion (Tk 84 billion) financing package pledged for construction of the Padma Multi Purpose Bridge by next January.
WB Country Director Ellen Goldstein said this during a call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban in the city yesterday.
This was a follow-up of the meeting of World Bank President Robert Zoellick with the Bangladesh Premier at St. Petersburg during her visit to Russia to attend the International Tiger Summit.
The World Bank now agreed to provide $1.5 billion, Asian Development Bank $615 million, Islamic Development Bank $130 million, JICA $400 million and Abudhabi Fund $31.4 million for the $2.9 billion mega project for constructing the bridge.
The 6.15-km Padma Bridge will unlock the economic potential of the southwest region, transferring the lives of millions of people and accelerating national growth towards middle income country status.
At the meeting with Goldstein, Hasina sought the World Bank's cooperation to start construction work of the bridge in the current dry season.
Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Nazrul Islam briefed newsmen after the meeting.
Hasina expressed her government's commitment to ensure optimum use of available resources and keep vigil against all sorts of mismanagement while implementing the project.
“The highest level of transparency and accountability would be ensured in the construction of the bridge as her government is committed to this end,” she added.
Highlighting the government's preparations for construction of the bridge, Hasina told the World Bank Resident Representative that 14,000 families were rehabilitated so far from the proposed bridge site.
She said more than 98 per cent people who were rehabilitated are satisfied with the government plan and are facilitating their smooth rehabilitation.
Goldstein informed Hasina about a project being implemented by the bank for generating employment opportunities for the rural women.
Expressing satisfaction over the project, the prime minister said the rural women would be benefited more if the project is implemented from March to April and September to October when they have no work.
Ambassador-at-Large M. Ziauddin, Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Molla Waheeduzzaman and ERD Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan were present on the occasion.