SNC-Lavalin
Montreal based engineering company SNC-Lavalin is accused of offering large bribes to influential Bangladeshi officials to secure a lucrative bridge contract over the Ganges River in India.
The officials involved include: former communications minister, Mr Syed Abul Hossain; former state minister for foreign affairs, Mr Abul Hasan Chowdhury; former secretary of the bridges division of the communications ministry, Mr Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan; former director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge project, Mr Rafiqul Islam; and three businessmen working on the project.
The World Bank has suspended its $1.2 billion loan for the bridge and is investigating the bidding process.
SNC-Lavalin are also conducting investigations into the allegations. In a statement the company said that it “intends to provide a comprehensive response to the allegations […] [and] remains committed to maintaining ethical standards of business conduct”.