Bangladesh has withdrawn its request for World Bank funding of a bridge project dogged by allegations of corruption.
The World Bank cancelled the $1.2 billion loan for the 6.2-kilometer bridge last year after finding evidence of corruption among Bangladeshi officials.
On Friday the bank said it had received a letter from the government of Bangladesh withdrawing its request for funding of the bridge that would cross the Padma River. Bangladesh had asked the World Bank to reconsider its loan cancellation, but the bank maintained that a credible probe into corruption was required to release the loan.
The Washington-based lender said Bangladesh intends to continue the investigation into the alleged corruption.
The bridge would have been the country's longest water crossing.