Corruption charges all lies: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has flatly denied any involvement of her family members in the Padma bridge scam.

During an interview on the CBC, correspondent Terence McKenna asked the Prime Minister: “Anti-Corruption Commission have accused you in previous cases to raise money through your sister, Sheikh Rehana. Here again, SNC-Lavalin was asked to pay money to your friends, family, is that not so?”

Pat came the reply from the Prime Minister: “Absolutely not, all concocted.”

The CBC video

, aired on May 16, lasted for 15 minutes.

“Awami League is not involved in corruption… We are working very hard to develop the country,” the Prime Minister insisted.

A year earlier, Hasina had said she had no family outside her children and sister Rehana.

The Prime Minister said the Padma bridge fiasco had not strained ties with the global lender World Bank. “Other projects of theirs are going on smoothly.”

Regarding the alleged corruption charges, Hasina reiterated that her government did not receive any ‘substantial evidence’.

The Canadian-based SNC-Lavalin was banned from all World Bank projects for 10 years after allegations of trying to secure consultancy by bribery. The company’s Vice President Ramesh Shah and Engineer Mohammad Ismail are facing trials over the matter.

Construction of the $ 2.9 billion Padma bridge, the largest infrastructure project of Bangladesh, was stuck after the Washington-based World Bank refused to continue funding alleging 'a conspiracy to exchange bribes.'

The ACC was asked to investigate the charges but Hasina's government withdrew the funding request and said it will fund the project with its 'own resources'.

Her erstwhile Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain , who was the focus of the allegations , later resigned.

In the CBC interview, McKenna mentioned Hossain to be the 'fund collector' for the Awami League.

Hasina refuted the charge. “He was in no such position in my party. If anyone says so, it is completely false.”

“We have sought evidence from Canada and World Bank. ACC is working independently. There has been no meddling in investigations,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the Padma bridge was very important for the economy of southern Bangladesh.

Hasina emphasized that there has been no corruption in the Padma bridge project. “World Bank talked off a plot for corruption.”

McKenna also talked to ACC Chief Counsel Anisul Haque who said there was evidence for a plot of corruption. “ACC filed a case based on it.”

Former Junior Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Chowdhury Kaiser also figured in the CBC programme. He refuted all allegations against him and said he had no idea how his name had been linked to the Padma bridge project.