Padma scam, a plot to discredit Hasina: Joy

The World Bank had cancelled its fund for the Padma bridge project with false allegation of bribery intending to discredit the Awami League-led government, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Information and Communication Technology Adviser to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said today.

He came up with the reaction in a post on his verified Facebook page after a Canadian court dismissed an international bribery case linked to the project yesterday at the prosecution's request.

READ MORE: Canada court finds no proof of Padma bridge bribery conspiracy

“The World Bank came up with this plot against my mother, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in an attempt to discredit her,” he said.

READ MORE: WB scraps Padma loan

He alleged, “Then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had instructed the World Bank to cancel the funding of the Padma Bridge in order to punish our government. She did so because Mohammed Yunus was repeatedly asking her to take action against my mother.”

READ MORE: Dream coming true as PM opens main work of Padma Bridge

“I myself was contacted several times during that episode by US State Department officials conveying threats from Hillary Clinton against our Government if we did not back off Yunus,” his post read.

‘So-called civil society owe nation an apology’

PM’s son Joy also came down heavily on the civil society members who reportedly had contributed to flaring up the issue of the alleged corruption in the much-talked about project.

READ MORE: ACC was under WB pressure to file Padma graft case

“It is also shameful that a section of our so called civil society immediately took sides against our country in favor of the World Bank,” he wrote.

He added, “They [civil society members] also owe Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Awami League Government and all the people whose reputation they hurt an apology. Indeed they owe Bangladesh an apology.”

In June 2012, the World Bank cancelled its $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.