'What have you gained by undermining me?' ex-minister Abul Hossain asks critics

Syed Abul Hossain, who lost his Cabinet berth after the allegation of corruption in the Padma Bridge project surfaced, has blamed 'some' newspapers and 'distinguished' persons for the withdrawal of World Bank funds from the project.

He has also blamed the then country director of the World Bank in Bangladesh Ellen Goldstein, for ‘hatching’ conspiracy against him and the project.

The allegation of corruption put him in the political wilderness, but the former communications minister came up with a reaction on Saturday in the wake of a Canada court verdict finding ‘no proof’ of bribery conspiracy in the project.

The World Bank withdrew the funds it had promised for the project, alleging that Canadian company SNC-Lavalin Group Inc staff had planned to bribe Bangladesh officials in a bid to win a $50 million contract to supervise the Padma Bridge construction. 

To fulfil World Bank conditions, a case was filed in Bangladesh. Some senior government officials in Bangladesh were arrested, and Syed Abul Hossain resigned as communications minister, but the global lender did not change its stance.

The then World Bank president Robert Zoellick cancelled the contract before leaving office.

In a verdict passed on Friday, the Canadian court has thrown out wiretap evidence that formed the basis of the prosecution's case, saying it was based on ‘gossip and rumour’.

This bdnews24.com file photo of Apr 28, 2011 shows the signing ceremony of a deal between Bangladesh government and the World Bank over Padma Bridge loan. The deal was later cancelled.

Abul Hossain said Zoellick had expressed regret over the 'conspiracy against him and the Padma Bridge' when they had met at a programme in China.

“Zoellick had told me that the World Bank officials were influenced by 'some' media outlets and 'distinguished' citizens of Bangladesh at that time,” Abul Hossain pointed out.

A World Bank delegation led by Luis Moreno Ocampo, a former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, came to Bangladesh to assist the investigation.

Abul Hossain says the then World Bank legal adviser Ocampo's role in the 'Padma Bridge conspiracy' will be marked as a 'dark chapter in history'.

"My family and I had to face harassments for the false allegations. Secretary-level officials of the government had to spend days in jail," he said in the statement.

"I had to leave the minister's post for the interest of the Padma Bridge following the conspiracy. My son-in-law's bank account in Canada was checked. All the bank accounts of me and my close relatives were investigated.

"The World Bank, being influenced by extravagant writings, cartoons, and editorials of some media, had accused me of conspiring corruption. My reputation was harmed. What is their (those media) answer today?" he asked.

“By not funding the bridge, the World Bank proved that it was part of the conspiracy,” he said.

"....May Allah show them the path of truth!" he concluded.