Conspirators who wanted to stall the Padma Bridge project would be tried under the country's existing law, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament yesterday.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission has already carried out investigations against those involved in conspiracy to obstruct the Padma Bridge project at that time,” the prime minister said in reply to a lawmaker's query.

In the scripted reply, Hasina, however, did not disclose the names of the conspirators and when the trial process would start.

The premier also said allegations of corruption against the Padma Bridge project were proved “baseless” in the ACC investigation. 

On the gas pipeline via the bridge to the country's Southern region, she said, "The government has plans to expand gas pipelines in the Southern region in phases and on availability of gas and financing.”

The government also has plans to set up a land-based LNG terminal at the Paira sea port to distribute gas in Southern and South-Western regions, Hasina added.

CHT PEACE TREATY

In reply to another query about the implementation of the CHT peace accord, the PM said her government was sincerely working to fully implement the CHT treaty soon.

She said the CHT treaty "is divided into four chapters and has 72 clauses".

Of them, 48 clauses were fully implemented, 15 partially implemented and nine were under implementation, she informed parliament.

Hasina, also leader of the House, said after returning to power in 2009, the government started working towards implementing the clauses and taking various development programmes in the region.

About withdrawal of military camps from the CHT, she said, “119 camps out of 232 have been withdrawn so far and the rest will be withdrawn in phases.”

As per the treaty, she said, there was a clause to move all temporary camps to six garrisons -- Dighinala, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Ruma and Alikadam.

“Infrastructure development is going on to that end,” the PM said.

She mentioned that the acquisition process of 997 acres of land for Ruma garrison "is underway".

As for the land dispute in the CHT, she said five land commissions had been formed until 1999 and a law titled "Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act-2001" was enacted.

She also said a survey would be conducted and the land commission would be able to play effective role in protecting the land of people in the area.

EARTHQUAKE VOLUNTEERS

In a scripted reply, the PM informed the House that the government would create 60,000 volunteers to carry out rescue operations in the event of an earthquake.

She said 30,000 of them "have already been given training".

About her government's plan to tackle post-earthquake situations, Hasina said a process was underway to purchase different equipment including rescue vehicle pick-up vans, rechargeable searchlights, foldable stretchers, body bags, face/gas masks and rescue equipment for volunteers worth Tk 158 crore.