Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said the World Bank’s decision to withdraw itself from funding the Padma Bridge was a blessing in disguise.
“Our self-respect has gone way up after constructing the bridge with our own funding. Our confidence in ourselves has become more robust. Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had said none will be able to suppress us anymore. We have reached that stage,” he said.
The law minister said this while addressing as special guest a function to unveil the cover of a book titled “Our Padma Bridge by Our Money”, edited by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
“The World Bank thought the Bengalis would not be able to construct Padma Bridge without their funding. Many had said building this Padma Bridge would not be possible anymore and constructing this bridge though our own funding would be ridiculous. But Sheikh Hasina had firmly said at that time, we would build our Padma Bridge with our own funding. Her strong-willed attitude reawakened the passion among the Bengalis,” Anisul added.
Presided over by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, the function was addressed as chief guest by Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shariar Alam, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam and Prof Dr Shamsul Haque, among others.
