[BANFAN]

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Asked when the 2nd team will be here, Ellen said it would be premature to provide any firm date on the next mission which is expected to arrive shortly.

Terming the first visit of the World Bank’s external panel successful, she said the panel worked with the ACC to provide some suggestions for them and also to discuss the course of investigation as well as to help the Padma co-financiers to really know what investigation is taking place.

Ellen said that the panel had learned a great deal about the Bangladesh’s process for conducting investigation that was really the initial goal to establish the way of working with the ACC.

The World Bank had cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the $2.9 billion project on June 29, saying it had credible evidence of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some private individuals.

The WB, which decided to revive its loan on September 21 after the Bangladesh government agreed to its terms and conditions, appointed a three-member external panel early this month to assess the conduct of the ACC investigation.

Padma Graft Probe: WB wants ACC to move ahead with speed