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http://sonarbangladesh.com/blog/mmrsohel/82969
http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/12/22/123429
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BSF building wall violating border rules
Indian Border Security Force is constructing a wall close to the border line in Senarbadi village of the district's Akhaura to protect a road they built there illegally.
About a year ago, BSF started constructing the 1,060 metre road from pillar 2305/S to 2401/S, according to Sarail 12 Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh.Now the Indian paramilitary force is building the wall in clear violation of the international law that allows no structure within 150 yards of the zero line.
Earlier, as BGB protested the wall construction, the Indian side said they would stop piling of earth. But the work continued in the dark of night.Several flag meetings were held on the issue.In one of the meetings, the Indian force assured BGB of not using this road. But for the last few days, Indian tractors loaded with bricks, cement bags are driving along the dirt road to border pillar 2024.
The Indian authorities are gathering construction materials close to the zero line and even inside Bangladesh territory. They are digging deep the ground and making big holes to construct the 2-3 feet high wall up to the level of the road. A few border pillars have sunk into earth.
One BGB official seeking anonymity has said the Indian side may have an ill-motive to construct a boundary wall.BGB office sources have said the high officials of both countries have agreed that retaining wall could be built within 16 feet of zero line to protect a boundary pillar that falls in any water body.
Contacted, Lieutenant Colonel Mustafizur Rahman, commanding officer of Sarail 12 battalion, said they earlier had sent BSF a message requesting not to erect any boundary wall there and held a battalion commander level meeting on December 21. In the meeting, the BSF agreed that they would not erect any wall above the ground level.BGB is always watching if BSF violates any treaty or border rules, the CO added.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=215552
WB threatens to slash funds for poor execution
Seven 'problem projects' identified
DHAKA, DEC 24: The World Bank (WB) has warned the government that if it fails to improve implementation of projects, particularly those with large procurements, the bank will check further funding.The WB warning came in a letter sent to the Economic Relations Division (ERD), on December 4.It has also urged the government to improve the implementation status as it will be critical to jointly monitor the implementation timeline. Held on December 3, the Joint Technical Quarterly Portfolio Review of the WB assistant projects covered 15 projects out of the total 32 projects.
The WB identified seven projects as problem projects, while seven other projects were slow-disbursing projects.The problem projects include "Chittagong Water Sanitation and Supply Programme," "Water Management Improvement," "Investment Promotion Financing Facilities," "Deepening MTBF and Financial Management (FM) Accountability," "Central Bank Strengthening Project," "Disability and Children at Risk" and "Secondary Education Quality and Access Enhancement."
Earlier, the donor agency's "problems and solutions" meeting of the foreign-aided projects, which were included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for implementation in FY 2011-12, on October 19, sought frequent discussions with the government on the progress of the foreign-aided projects to ensure the proper utilisation of foreign aid.
In the meeting, the WB put forward three suggestions, ensuring commitment from the highest authorities of the ministries concerned in implementing the projects, holding review meeting at least twice a year for close monitoring of those projects.
With regard to the "Chittagong Water Sanitation and Supply Programme," the government assured the WB that the project would take off without delay after recruiting the technical consultancies to conduct the hydraulic modelling and detailed engineering designs of the transmission and distribution systems as well as engineering designs for the Modhunaghat water treatment plant.
The "Water Management Improvement" project has been put out to tender and international contract bidding, while it's also awaiting revised project plan approvals.
There have been no disbursement under the additional financing of investment promotion financing facility (IPFF). The appointment of chief executive officer for the project is still pending although IPFF has provided the necessary infrastructure and logistic support."Deepening MTBF and FM Accountability" was also identified as a problem project and is now undergoing restructuring to realign the components.The "Central Bank Strengthening" project is scheduled to close on December 30 and it is likely that the two remaining packages will have been implemented by then.
Sources said Bangladesh Bank would initially review the extension request. If the extension was not possible, the bank would need to provide financing for the ongoing and new contracts, the sources added.Staff recruitment is yet to complete for the "Disability and Children" project though it came into effect on January 22, 2009. Moreover, the detailed revised project plan is yet to be approved by the executive committee of national economic committee (ECNEC).
The WB signed an agreement to provide $130 million for improvement of the quality of secondary education, systematic monitoring of learning outcomes, and to increase access and equity in project upazilas.However, some irregularities were reportedly found in the implementation of the project. The ministry of education took action based on an internal investigation report.
In addition, a credit of $1.2 billion for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge still hangs into balance, clouded by allegations of corruption.
The WB, which agreed to lend $1.2 billion for the $2.9-billion project, suspended release of $1.345 billion until the allegation of corruption in the bidding process was dealt with.
The WB's integrity vice-president, Leonard F McCarthy, on September 21, handed over a confidential letter and the Institutional Integrity's (INT) investigation report on corruption related to the Padma bridge project to finance minister AMA Muhith, in Washington.The investigation report said that communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and SAHCO, his family-owned company, sought to coerce several companies into using SAHCO as a paid 'silent agent' for getting permission to bid for the main bridge contract of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.
Allegations of corruption in the bidding process of the main bridge were made by the WB, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has already launched investigation into corruption in the bidding process for appointment of a supervision consultant.
http://theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/frontpage/129-frontpage/86375-wb-threatens-to-slash-funds-for-poor-execution.html