Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus of obstructing the much-anticipated Padma Bridge project, alleging that he used his connections to block crucial funding from the World Bank.

Speaking at a distinguished gathering on Friday at the Mawa end of the Padma Bridge to mark the project's completion, Prime Minister Hasina revealed that former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had personally called her to lobby for Yunus's position as Managing Director (MD) of Grameen Bank.

"She wouldn't hang up the phone for 20 minutes. A representative of the President of France came. Many people came. I just asked, ‘Tell me one thing, why is this MD position so special?’” Hasina recounted.

While the Padma Bridge project garnered international attention from entities like the World Bank and JICA, a controversy arose regarding Muhammad Yunus's position as Managing Director of Grameen Bank and because of that the bridge’s funding was stopped, alleged Hasina.

"I never got an answer to this question. A major country was promoting him. The ambassador of that country was in my office, scolding my officer, saying that if there is no MD position, the funding for the bridge would stop," she said.

Prime Minister Hasina reiterated her accusations against the World Bank, claiming they withdrew funding for the Padma Bridge project at Hillary Clinton's behest due to Muhammad Yunus's removal as Grameen Bank's Managing Director.

Despite this, Hasina proudly emphasized that the bridge stands as a testament to Bangladesh's resilience and self-reliance, built with domestic funds and the support of the Malaysian Prime Minister.

She recounted how naysayers doubted the project's feasibility, questioning where the funds would come from. "We did it with our own money," she declared, highlighting the bridge as a symbol of national pride that has earned Bangladesh international respect.

The Prime Minister further emphasized that the Padma Bridge has elevated Bangladesh's standing on the global stage,bringing dignity and recognition to the nation and its people.

—