Home ›› 02 Jun 2022 ›› Front
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the World Bank had cancelled Padma Bridge funding at the request of Dr Muhammad Yunus and later the Awami League government constructed that bridge with the country’s own resources.
She mentioned that Yunus, just for the post of managing director of Grameen Bank, carried out the conspiracy and a Canadian court later declared all the allegations regarding this project false and baseless.
“He illegally stayed in the MD post of Grameen Bank at the age of 71. He lodged a case regarding the matter and lost,” said the prime minister.
Bangladesh has proved it is no longer dependent on foreign funding through constructing the Padma Bridge on self-finance thwarting all conspiracies, she said.
She said that her government could take up the challenge as she has been honest in her purpose.
“We have built that bridge with our own money. Inshallah, I will inaugurate that bridge on June 25,” she said.
The prime minister came up with the remarks in her introductory speech at the meeting of the ruling Awami League’s Advisory Council held at Ganabhaban.
She expressed satisfaction that her ruling Awami League party has been able to fulfil its election pledges to the people.
At the outset of the meeting observed one-minute silence in memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, martyrs of the August 15 massacre and late members of the Advisory Council.
Earlier on the day, while presiding over the meeting of the executive committee of the National Economic Council, the prime minister directed the authorities concerned to disconnect the electricity connection of anyone who failed to pay their arrear electricity bills despite being served legal notice.
“She asked for action against the errant electricity consumers – public or private – as per the law, and even severing their power connection after issuing notices,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan on Wednesday quoting the prime minister.
He made the comment at a press conference held after the ECNEC meeting, held at the NEC auditorium in Dhaka.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the directive while a project titled “Installing Pre-Payment Meters at Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions” was tabled at the ECNEC meeting, said Mannan, adding that the issue of arrear electricity bills was raised at the time as well.
She noted that if the operations of pre-payment metering efforts are strengthened, then the system loss will decline significantly. Sheikh Hasina also directed the authorities concerned to take tougher action against those who have large arrear electricity bills, Mannan said.
The planning minister added, “The prime minister has asked the authorities concerned to modernise the power sector. She also wants to know how much of the arrear bills are unpaid till date.” As per the January 2021 estimates of the Power Division, it owes Tk 8,556.63 crore from the domestic consumers. Of this figure, Tk 6,962.74 crore is in the private sector. The Power Division also owes Tk 746.86 crore to various government departments.
