The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a proposal of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to give the work of developing the land for the Mirershorai Economic Zone (MEZ) to the Navy because it has quoted a lower price than the Water Development Board (WDB).

The approval was given at a meeting held at the Secretariat, with the finance minister in the chair, yesterday (Wednesday).

The committee has waived Clause 76 (2) of the Public Procurement Act 2006 to acquire the land under the direct procurement method.

According to the committee decision, the Navy will do the work at a cost of Tk 233.20 per cubic metre. The rate quoted by the Water Development Board (WDB) in Chittagong was Tk 328.14–390.46 per cubic metre.

The Bangladesh Navy will complete the land development work within the shortest possible time as they are now building a 19-km-long embankment in cooperation with the WDB, according to the proposal. The land development work has to be completed by February 2018.