Proof or no proof, graft allegation was there in Padma Bridge project: BNP

The BNP thinks the allegation of graft in Padma Bridge project is the issue, and the Canada court verdict finding ‘no proof’ of bribery conspiracy in the case is not worthy of consideration.

“The reality is that the World Bank withdrew funds (it had promised) due to an allegation of corruption in the Padma Bridge project,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in reply to reporters’ queries at a programme on Saturday.

He also claimed his party ‘never’ commented on any court verdict over the matter.

“We said that the allegation of corruption surfaced. Now what has been proved or what has not been proved – it’s not a matter of our consideration,” he said.

Speaking about the new Election Commission at the programme to mark the unwrapping of three books at Amar Ekushey Book Fair, Mirza Fakhrul once again questioned the impartiality of new Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

“The commission led by this CEC will never be able to play an impartial role,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy took to the Facebook to lash out at those raising the allegations after the Padma Bridge graft case verdict of the Canadian court was made public on Friday.

The Ontario Superior Court has acquitted three business executives of charges that SNC-Lavalin Group Inc staff planned to bribe Bangladesh officials in a bid to win a $50 million contract to supervise the Padma Bridge construction.

The court has thrown out wiretap evidence that formed the basis of the prosecution's case, saying it was based on gossip and rumour.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Bangladesh had earlier said it had found no truth to the allegations of graft in the Padma Bridge project.