Padma Bridge project victims to file case against World Bank: PM Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the people affected by the World Bank's decision on cancelling finance to the Padma Bridge project and subsequent lawsuit in Canadian Court would file case against the bank.

"Effected persons would certainly file case against the World Bank as tried to involve them in a direly false case," The Daily Star quoted the Prime Minister as saying in response to the demand of the expatriate leaders and workers of European Awami League in Germany.

"We are grateful to the Almighty as the persons affected by the World Bank's decision have finally got justice after a long suffering. They tried to implicate my son and daughter, sister, my cabinet members, advisors and secretaries with the fictitious allegation," she said.

Hasina reached Germany yesterday to attend 53th Munich Security Conference at the invitation of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"The verdict of the Canadian court went in favour of us as all members of my family and I myself were in the path of truth and honesty," she added.

In June 2012, the World Bank cancelled its USD 1.2 billion credit for the Padma Bridge project, saying it had proof of a "corruption conspiracy" involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals.

On February 10, a Canadian court dismissed an international bribery case linked to the project at the prosecution's request.