Padma bridge case
The case against former senior executives of SNC-Lavalin Group in Canada has been dismissed by the Ontario Superior Court. This brings to a close the red flag raised by the World Bank (WB) back in 2011 of a corruption conspiracy surrounding the proposed Padma Bridge loan. It vindicates Bangladesh's honour and stand, and we are happy about it. It is now proven that the WB had acted without due diligence which has stained the image of the country. Given the way the case was summarily dismissed it is evident that there was really no case at all. Therefore, we must ask, why did the WB humiliate us in front of the world?
The cancellation of the loan by the Bank to finance the Padma Bridge stands out both for its rarity and severity. It was a very rare, if not unique case, that a loan to a member country was cancelled on suspicion of corruption which now turns out to be without any basis.
Bangladesh has suffered enormously in the court of public opinion. Nothing the WB can do will make up for our pain. We thank the Canadian court for its judgment and vindicating our position. Let this be a lesson for the WB not to play with the future of nations who seek their assistance. It is a clear case of failure to act with assiduity on the part of this multinational body and clear sign of arrogance of its high officials to "punish" a member state without appropriate evidence. We are proud that Bangladesh's reputation has been vindicated.
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