Skip to main content

World Bank cancel US$1.2bn Padma Bridge loan

A loan worth US$1.20billion for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project has been cancelled by the World Bank (WB). The decision was said to have been taken as the Bank was not satisfied with the actions taken by the Bangladeshi government in regards to corruption allegations involving the bridge contract. A major engineering and construction company is alleged to have made improper payments to Bangladeshi government officials in order to secure the bridge contract. The World Bank loan, signed In April last y
July 6, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSA loan worth US$1.20billion for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project has been cancelled by the 2332 World Bank (WB).

The decision was said to have been taken as the Bank was not satisfied with the actions taken by the 1043 Bangladeshi Government in regards to corruption allegations involving the bridge contract. A major engineering and construction company is alleged to have made improper payments to Bangladeshi government officials in order to secure the bridge contract.

The World Bank loan, signed In April last year, was part of a funding package for construction of the US$2.9 billion bridge which, on completion, would have been be the country's longest.

Funding also was expected from the 943 Asian Development Bank, the 2416 Japan International Cooperation Agency and the 2417 Islamic Development Bank.

The bridge was intended to link the country's underdeveloped southwestern districts with Dhaka, the capital, benefiting 30 million people and boosting Bangladesh's economy by 1.2%, according to a forecast by the Asian Development Bank.
The World Bank first brought the corruption allegations in October last year.

Western world companies face tight legislation with regard to alleged improper payments, making the practice largely eradicated.

Related Content

  • Senior ADB figure urges governments to act on sustainable transport
    September 27, 2013
    Multilateral development banks (MDB) are determined to do all they can to encourage governments of developing countries meet key sustainable transport targets, according to a senior figure at one of the world’s biggest MDB’s. Guy Woodford reports Tyrrell Duncan, Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) director of Transport and Communications Division, East Asia has been at the forefront of MDB efforts to enhance sustainable transport and road safety in developing countries. Speaking during a break in talks at the In
  • Bangladesh highway contract awarded
    November 15, 2022
    A major Bangladesh highway contract has been awarded.
  • New bridge project for Sri Lanka
    September 30, 2013
    A bridge costing some US$321 million will be built in Sri Lanka to span the Kelani River. This new link will reduce congestion at Baseline Road and in the area of Peliyagoda. The bridge is expected to take three years to construct and will measure 415m long. The project is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is also funding the design detail and feasibility studies. Meanwhile the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved credit $75 million for the construction of roads l
  • Rwanda road building planned
    June 9, 2017
    A US$89.7 million finance package from the World Bank will pay for the construction of a new highway in Rwanda. The project calls for the construction of a 66.5km highway, which forms part of a larger plan to build a 117km route from Ngoma to Nyanza.