Self-funded Padma bridge brightens country's image
Says law minister
The country's image has brightened globally after the government decided to construct the Padma bridge with its own funding, said Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday.
“The world has started to believe that Bangladesh can do what it wants. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given this message to the world by starting to construct the Padma bridge with our own resources,” he said.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a meeting organised by the law ministry, marking National Mourning Day at the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) office in Dhaka.
He said Bangladesh is not a "bottomless basket" now, as it has achieved much progress.
When the World Bank changed its decision to fund Bangladesh to construct the Padma bridge, the PM announced her decision to construct the bridge with own fund, he said.
Many civil-society members were laughing after the announcement, he said, adding that the scenario has changed now.
He said a law titled as “Indemnity Ordinance” had been formulated to stop the trial of the offences of killings including that of Bangabandhu and his family members.
The civil society members, who are now alleging of violation of human rights, had not demanded cancellation of the ordinance for 21 years, he said.
Law and Justice Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque Dulal presided over the meeting where Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque, IGR Khan Md Abdul Mannan, Supreme Court Registrar General Dr Md Zakir Hossain and additional law secretaries Nasrin Begum and Salma Binte Kadir also spoke.