Parliament: Bangladesh Parliament on Sunday witnessed an intense and indeed unscheduled lively discussion on the recent Canadian court verdict dismissing allegations of corruption in Bangladesh's Padma Bridge project saying the charges were based on 'gossip and rumour'.

Rising on a point of order immediately after the sitting resumed at 4:49pm with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, parliament members both from the treasury and opposition benches described the allegation of Padma Bridge scam as a plot against a sovereign country and its people to undermine the image of the present government.

Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Firoj Rashid initiated the discussion immediately after the chair tabled one-hour question-answer session slated for ministers. 

The Jatiya Party lawmaker was followed by veteran Awami League leader and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Dr. Dipu Moni, Abdul Mannan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal and Jatiya Party MP Zauddin Uddin Ahmed Bablu.

The veteran parliamentarians said the persons who drummed up the allegations must seek an apology to the Prime Minister, the government and the countrymen and the victims of the case as well. They also demanded compensation from the World Bank for increasing the construction cost of the bridge due to delay of its beginning.

Describing the Padma bridge scam allegation as a plot against the country and the nation, Tofail Ahmed said some behind the scene elements made the allegations in a bid to halt the ongoing progress of the country.

"They did it, as they (plotters) knew that the country's GDP growth rate would raise by 2% and the south-western region of the country would witness remarkable progress in socio-economic sector once the Padma bridge project is implemented," he added.

Tofail demanded of the government to take effective steps against the conspirators and urged lawmakers to adopt a resolution thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her bold steps and upholding the dignity of the nation for making the dream of constructing the Padma Bridge a reality. 

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said Prof. Dr. Younus drummed up the allegations and forced World Bank through former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to cancel the credit, which the world moneylender committed to providing Bangladesh for implementing the project. 

She asked Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), an anti-graft watchdog, to seek explanation from World Bank as to why it had brought the 'false' allegation against the government that had undermined the image of the government and dignity of the nation. 

Chowdhury requested all foreign agencies working in Dhaka to see every thing with 'human eyes instead of stone eyes', so that none of innocent persons become victims of their acts.

Giving a detailed account of the Padma Bridge graft allegation case, Law Minister Anisul Huq said with the Canadian Superior Court verdict following eye witnesses statements, it was proved that the graft allegations were totally baseless and fabricated. 

"The eye-witnesses said that there was no corruption in Padma Bridge project," he said adding that following the verdict the dignity of the nation has been restored. 

The eminent jurist demanded that the World Bank has to seek apology to Prime Minister, Bangladesh and those who became victims after raising false graft allegations centering the Padma Bridge project. 

He also requested the finance minister to send a protest note to the World Bank expressing Bangladesh's dismay over the total episode of the Padma bridge graft allegation.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said a vested interested group drummed up the allegation in a bid to halt the ongoing progress of the country, as they don't tolerate the development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina.

Terming Prof. Dr Yunus as an ungrateful person, he said it was Yunus who instigated the process by raising allegations using her foreign connection to frustrate the project that would benefit tens of millions of people in the south western region. Echoing the similar sentiments, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, JSD lawmaker Moin Uddin Khan Badal, Jatiya Party MP Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu demanded filing a case against those who made the allegations in a bid to undermine the nation's image and adopt a resolution in the House thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her bold step to make the construction of the dream project a reality.