Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government would manage alternative sources of funds, if necessary, to construct the Padma bridge if the World Bank (WB) decides not to finance the largest infrastructure project in Bangladesh.

"It is up to the World Bank whether it will finance the Padma bridge or not," he told reporters after the opening ceremony of a two-day regional seminar on infrastructure at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

"But we have to construct it because we promised the people that we would. The World Bank has no such liability to anybody," said the minister.

The minister also said he does not think there would be any relationship stalemate between Bangladesh and the WB even if the Washington-based lender decides not to finance the project.

He said if the WB does not finance the proposed bridge, the government could still ask it to finance the second bridge over the river.

"If we cannot construct the first Padma bridge with the financing of the World Bank, we will request it to help finance the second Padma bridge."

"We have to start the construction of the bridge during our tenure but it is not possible to get funds from the World Bank within the time due to its lengthy process."

"The WB could transfer the fund to the second Padma bridge or any other project. We will make requests to that effect," Quader said.

He said construction of the much-talked Padma bridge would start in the next nine months.

The minister also said the WB has extended the deadline for the loan effectuation by six months. "The World Bank has done so on its own. Bangladesh has made no such request."

The minister said the WB, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Islamic Development Bank are Bangladesh's development partners in many of the country's projects.

"We have no enmity with any of them."

The Daily Star/ Bangladesh/ 10th May 2012