7 lessons learnt from the Padma bridge affair

Now that the Padma bridge has returned, one also hopes that the lessons will be learnt as well. We were not sure what led to the World Bank rethink but it did and we are all happy. It was never a particular government's agenda but of Bangladesh as a whole and even if most of the obstacles were a product of the unrealistic and shallow thinking of the administration, ultimately the bridge is on.

This is also the time to thank the finance minister of Bangladesh AMA Muhith, recently in the news for "underestimating' the scale of the Hallmark loan size but who steered the most difficult possible phase of the project under extreme pressure. So thank you Sir, you have served Bangladesh well in this matter.

Meanwhile, a quick look back and the lessons learnt that can serve all administrations well in the future. Here is my top 7.

1. Be practical. Bangladesh was in a weak position from the beginning in the negotiations but continued to behave as if it was strong. The WB didn't need the Padma bridge, we did but we acted as if it was almost a favour to be done by us if we took their fund. Our strength would have been to comply with the demands quickly or even better anticipate them and act before it became an embarrassment which it did. How could we think that we could make them believe there is no corruption when we as a people think otherwise? Next time, be practical.

2. Trust your own people. Don't just use them to come to power but treat them with respect. People are aware of what goes on so it is best not to think that they are milk and bread consuming babies. The Government tried to mobilise public opinion by making the people think they were the victims of the WB whims when the Government was all along responsible for refusing to accept that almost everyone is routinely corrupt. It is one thing to take a principled position against WB funding and take the moral high ground by refusing to take their loan but it is completely another to ask for the loan and refuse to follow loan conditions particularly on corruption protection.

If you want support from the people, tell them the facts not fictions and in case of an important project, put them first before the party face saving and prestige.

3. Behave like an adult befitting the status. Like a child, don't blame the rest of the world for your own created problems. If you have goofed in the first round, pick yourself up, make amends and move on. A little more self-respect in dealing with the problem would have made everyone feel better. Instead of thinking that the WB is a political opponent or a local club and matching it with Paltan maidan language didn't enhance national prestige. Let's face it, The WB is the cheapest source of international credit and we risked that by refusing to budge which in the end we did. Bangladesh was about to take loans from the Malaysians and the Chinese which would have been disastrous. That would have been worse although so many people went on the media saying that Padma bridge funding was just a question of writing a cheque. The operating lesson is "Grow up".

4. Stop calling everyone names just because one is feeling bad. There is no reason to call people names whether it's calling Yunus a 'traitor' or Abul Hossain a 'patriot' just because one is feeling pissed off. It didn't seem that we had the mental capacity to handle stress. Name calling is a serious matter and one wishes at least national leaders would practice some reserve on this. It's not a huge matter I suppose in calling someone a traitor because there are so many amongst us but the word 'patriot' has some special significance in the history of Bangladesh particularly given what we experienced in 1971. And if Yunus stopped the WB funding, should we thank him now that it's back?

5. Learn to make a difference between the World Bank and the Sonali Bank. Bangladesh behaved as if the WB could be bullied into making a decision without abiding by the conditionalities which had been discussed for long. It never occurred to those who mattered that the Bank was not going to be moved by large speeches and counter accusations that the WB is corrupt too. Bangladesh seems to have been under the impression that the World Bank is run the same way the local Sonali Bank is run. We should get real about the world and respond according to the appropriate demands of each.

6. Learn to accept realities. Most of us all know that we are corrupt and nothing is going to change that. We have accepted corruption and that's it. Once in awhile we may complain but we don't do it seriously so instead of pretending why not be practical about it? Why did we keep protesting that we are not corrupt and keep the funding at bay? We should have admitted our corrupt state, accepted the demand to move several people elsewhere which we did in the end and not make everyone including the government look foolish. Why behave this way and drag on the drama? I suggest the next time we face accusations of corruption we smile and say they are right and move on. We shouldn't let our hypocrisies stand in the way of development projects.

7. Stop talking so much please. Nothing more to add in this category.

So we had a great and interesting drama but the bridge is hopefully back and we are all happy. All the people who had made plans to make themselves rich on the back of the Padma bridge shouldn't feel too bad. There is no power on earth which can prevent theft in this country and I'm sure ways shall be found. Just a bit of patience guys.

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Afsan Chowdhury is an Executive Editor, bdnews24.com.