DHAKA, May 13, 2024 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr
Hasan Mahmud today said those who had criticized the
Padma Bridge project could have sought apology to the
nation, as they were proved wrong.    
   
“Those who spoke wrong (regarding Padma bridge)
during that time did neither acknowledge their mistakes
nor seek apology to the nation,” he said while unveiling
a book titled “Padma Bridge: An Epic Accomplishment,”
edited by eminent economist Dr Qazi Khaliquzzaman at
the foreign ministry here.

The foreign minister said during the time, many
newspapers made headlines and there were a lot of
criticisms in TV talk-shows demonstrating that the
Padma Bridge project is not going to be implemented.
Hasan said the Transparency International Bangladesh
(TIB) and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) came up
with sharp criticism after World Bank’s scrapping of
committed loans.

“How could there be corruption where no funds were
released? Luckily, the Canadian court concluded that no
corruption was found,” he said.

The foreign minister said that the Padma Bridge is the
symbol of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s able
leadership and shining example of Bangladesh’s capacity
 
Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar
Alam and Dr Khaliquzzaman also spoke at the event
where a new music video of a patriotic song titled
“Sonar Bangladesh Dekhte Chai”, written by
Hasanuzzaman Masum and sang by singers Kishore Das,
Joy Shahriar, Zakia S Kornia and Elita Karim.   

The foreign minister underlined the need for a united
cultural renaissance in favour of development and
humanity to take forward the country and turn it into a
Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“I think there is a need for a strong cultural renaissance
to keep people united. My request to you all, let’s come
together,” he said.