Possible but at a cost

The Japanese ambassador in Dhaka yesterday said self financing of the proposed Padma bridge was "logically and theoretically" possible but in doing so the government might not be able to meet many other needs of the country.
The main objective of the government is not only to build the bridge but to give services at a low cost to people who will use the bridge, Shiro Sadoshima said at a discussion organized by Diplomatic Correspondents' Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club.
He replied to a volley of questions about the funding of the mega project.
On the mobilisation of commercial funds, he said that would need huge government subsidy.
The World Bank on June 30 scrapped its $1.2billion credit on alleged corruption in the bridge project. Later, the Asian Development Bank also withdrew its pledge of $615 million for the project.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is one of the co-financiers of the Padma bridge project with a funding commitment of $400 million.
Though Japan's loan commitment was still on the cards, the ambassador said, Tokyo was looking "closely" into the government's action after the cancellation of the WB loan.
"We are watching the entire situation very closely and see how it develops," Sadoshima said, mentioning the prime minister and other ministers' recent statements regarding fresh negotiations with the WB or self-financing of the bridge.
He stressed the need for addressing the corruption allegation raised by the WB, adding that as per Corruption Perceptions Index, Bangladesh had not yet reached a commendable stage.
However, he said the government was sincere and formulating a policy to deal with the issue.
In reply to a question about an alternative arrangement for funding of the bridge as discussed by the deputy prime minister of Japan and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in Tokyo last week, Sadoshima said it was too early to speak about that.
"It is impossible for Japan to arrange the fund that was committed by the World Bank," he added.
Presided over by DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus, the discussion was also addressed by General Secretary Bashir Ahmed.