The World Bank on Tuesday did not response to an ERD proposal to finance the second Padma Bridge project at Paturia-Goalonda point in the country as the government
started negotiation with the lending agency.
The government proposed the WB to finance 15 new development projects including the second Padma Bridge in the 2013-14 financial year at the meeting held at the conference room of the National Economic Council in the city. Economic Relations Division secretary M Abul Kalam Azad chaired the meeting.
The government sought the WB fund for the second Padma Bridge at a time when the lending agency withdrew the $1.2 billion for Padma Bridge at Mawa point a few months ago on corruption charges.
‘We did not get any response from the WB to finance the second Padma Bridge project,’ M Abul Kalam Azad told New Age after the meeting.
The government has planned to construct the second Padma Bridge with the initial estimation of Tk 1,3121.38 crore. Its construction period was set from July 2011 to June 2017.
The WB, ADB, IDB, Netherlands and China were proposed to finance a total of Tk 9,870 crore to the project.
Meeting sources said the WB on Tuesday committed to provide $1.2 billion in loan in six development areas — $300 million for power sector, $320 million for construction of dam in coastal areas, $300 million for development of municipalities, $155 million for development of fisheries sector, $45 million for primary education and $80 million for poverty eradication in slam areas — in the 2013-14 financial year.
The financial commitment could increase as more projects may be approved by the WB in a separate meeting next week, the sources said.
-With New Age input
