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Friday, October 21, 2011Front Page
PM at ALPP Meet
'A Bangladeshi Nobel laureate' lobbied against financing
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=207403
Rashidul Hasan and Rakib Ahammed
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that "a Bangladeshi Nobel laureate" had lobbied the World Bank through a top US official against financing the Padma Bridge project.
Speaking at an Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting, she said the Nobel winner had tried from the beginning to convince the World Bank not to fund the mega project, but the bank authorities did not respond.
Hasina, however, did not mention any name, lawmaker Golam Faruk Khandakar Prince, who was present at the meeting, told The Daily Star.
During the three-hour meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the prime minister said the WB has alleged only verbally that a business firm named Sahco is influencing the tender process for Padma Bridge.
“I have asked them [World Bank] to come up with written evidence. None can be accused on the basis of verbal allegations,” Prince quoted Hasina as saying.
She also said she has requested WB officials to prove the graft allegations against the firm or release funds to start construction of the bridge.
“Or else, the government will allow other international donors to fund the project,” she said adding that a number of international organisations have already expressed interest in funding it.
Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, called upon the MPs to step up their activities in constituencies and go from door to door to listen to problems of the people and also to highlight the government's success.
She blasted lawmaker Golam Maula Roni for criticising ministers, including Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, in television talk shows.
“You [Roni] talk too much, but we know you have business with Andaleeve Rahman Partho [chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party, a component of the BNP-led alliance]. So, you have to be cautious when you criticise the ministers and the government,” the AL chief was quoted as saying at the meeting.
Ten lawmakers also spoke at the meeting, and some of them accused AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam of not giving time to party leaders.
Contacted, lawmaker from Naogaon Israfil Alam said, “I told the prime minister that those who have been given important posts in the party and the cabinet but are not doing their jobs sincerely should be axed.”
He also said party activities have almost come to a halt since the general secretary is not active at all.
Two other lawmakers told Hasina that candidates nominated by party lawmakers were not considered in recruitment of primary school teachers, and for jobs under the health ministry, the meeting sources said.
They also claimed that licences for 10 private television channels were given to pro-AL people, but some of them sold those to BNP supporters, who are now running propaganda against the government.
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PM at ALPP Meet
'A Bangladeshi Nobel laureate' lobbied against financing
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=207403
Rashidul Hasan and Rakib Ahammed
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that "a Bangladeshi Nobel laureate" had lobbied the World Bank through a top US official against financing the Padma Bridge project.
Speaking at an Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting, she said the Nobel winner had tried from the beginning to convince the World Bank not to fund the mega project, but the bank authorities did not respond.
Hasina, however, did not mention any name, lawmaker Golam Faruk Khandakar Prince, who was present at the meeting, told The Daily Star.
During the three-hour meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the prime minister said the WB has alleged only verbally that a business firm named Sahco is influencing the tender process for Padma Bridge.
“I have asked them [World Bank] to come up with written evidence. None can be accused on the basis of verbal allegations,” Prince quoted Hasina as saying.
She also said she has requested WB officials to prove the graft allegations against the firm or release funds to start construction of the bridge.
“Or else, the government will allow other international donors to fund the project,” she said adding that a number of international organisations have already expressed interest in funding it.
Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, called upon the MPs to step up their activities in constituencies and go from door to door to listen to problems of the people and also to highlight the government's success.
She blasted lawmaker Golam Maula Roni for criticising ministers, including Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, in television talk shows.
“You [Roni] talk too much, but we know you have business with Andaleeve Rahman Partho [chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party, a component of the BNP-led alliance]. So, you have to be cautious when you criticise the ministers and the government,” the AL chief was quoted as saying at the meeting.
Ten lawmakers also spoke at the meeting, and some of them accused AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam of not giving time to party leaders.
Contacted, lawmaker from Naogaon Israfil Alam said, “I told the prime minister that those who have been given important posts in the party and the cabinet but are not doing their jobs sincerely should be axed.”
He also said party activities have almost come to a halt since the general secretary is not active at all.
Two other lawmakers told Hasina that candidates nominated by party lawmakers were not considered in recruitment of primary school teachers, and for jobs under the health ministry, the meeting sources said.
They also claimed that licences for 10 private television channels were given to pro-AL people, but some of them sold those to BNP supporters, who are now running propaganda against the government.
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