The World Bank banned Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin from its projects Wednesday over corruption in a Bangladesh bridge project and another project. SNC-Lavalin was debarred from working on bank projects for 10 years after former company officials were linked to alleged high-level bribery in the tainted project, which led to the World Bank canceling a $1.2 billion loan to Bangladesh for the Padma Bridge project last June.

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said the government will seek assistance from the army for the construction of the Padma Bridge. The minister was addressing a function at Hamdard University (proposed) maidan at Sonargaon near Meghna Bridge after inaugurating the second phase repair work on Meghna and Gumti bridges. Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, officials of the army, Communications Ministry, Roads and Highway department and others were present. “Construction works on the second Meghna, the second Gumti and the second Kanchpur bridges

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday said the government would invite international tenders by June next for the construction of the country’s much-hyped 6.15-kilometre long Padma Multipurpose Bridge project. “Tender documents will be out in next month or in first week of June for Padma,” he told a pre-budget meeting with the Economic Reporters Forum (ERD) at his ministry. Muhith informed that the tenders would be floated for three types of works -- consultants to supervise the construction of the bridge, construction of the main bridge and river training.

A Japanese aid agency has withdrawn its offer to lend Bangladesh $430 million to help build the country's biggest bridge after the project was dogged by allegations of corruption. The move came as Bangladesh withdrew its request for $1.2 billion in World Bank financing for the Padma Bridge, months after the lender cancelled the loan due to claims of graft involving senior public officials.