Procurement of 35 new dredgers

Govt won’t tolerate irregularities

The government will not tolerate any irregularities in the procurement of 35 new dredgers, including crane boats, tugboats, houseboats and other related vessels and their accessories. The state minister for shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, made this observation during a courtesy call on the leaders of the Shipping and Communication Reporters’ Forum Bangladesh (SCRFB) at the shipping ministry yesterday. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), under the shipping ministry, is procuring these dredgers and their ancillary machinery and accessories at a cost of Tk. 4,400 crore.

He also said all the illegal structures that have been built, grabbing riverbanks across the country, will be removed, freeing the river channels. “The department concerned would have to ensure the quality of dredgers as per the tender agreement. If the supplier company or the department concerned fails to maintain the quality, they will face stern action,” the junior minister said in reply to a query. Chowdhury added that the BIWTA’s dredging department is looking after the matter. It is responsible for the construction of 35 new dredgers.

Dredging work in four rivers—the Jhinai, Ghagot, Bangshi and Nagda—will begin soon, he disclosed. The state minister also discussed the condition of the country’s rivers and the encroachments on them. Many people have established structures on riverbanks illegally and they will be evicted and their structures demolished in phases, he said. He sought the media’s cooperation in this respect. The BIWTA’s chief engineer (dredging), MA Matin, told this correspondent that these dredgers and their ancillary machinery and accessories will not be procured at a time. “We will procure 35 dredgers, ancillary machinery and accessories in several packages. We have already invited tenders for three packages,” he said in reply to a query.

When asked about the quality of the dredgers, he replied, “We’ll definitely ensure requirements in the Procurement of dredgers. There will be no compromise in terms of quality of the dredgers.” The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in October last year approved the project to procure 35 dredgers at a cost of Tk. 4,489.03 crore to maintain the navigability of 100 major rivers.

The BIWTA will implement the dredging procurement project by June 2023. The government is financing the project with its own funds.

According to the Development Project Proposal (DPP), two 28-inch cutter suction dredgers, eight 24-inch cutter suction dredgers, eight 20-inch cutter suction dredgers, nine 18-inch cutter suction dredgers, two 12-inch cutter suction dredgers and two trailing suction hopper dredgers will be procured.

Besides, 25 crane boats, 18 tugboats, 35 houseboats, 15 houseboats for officers, 22 pipe-carrying barges, 10 dumb barges and excavators will also be procured.

Currently, the BIWTA is operating 35 types of dredgers, including four amphibian ones, in its fleet.

SCRFB president Asish Kumar Dey, SCRFB ex-president Anisur Rahman Khan, Dhaka Reporter’s Unity ex-general secretary Syed Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo and SCRFB general secretary Rafiqul Islam were present at the meeting, among others.

 

Procurement of 35 new dredgers

Govt wont tolerate irregularities

The government will not tolerate any irregularities in the procurement of 35 new dredgers, including crane boats, tugboats, houseboats and other related vessels and their accessories. The state minister for shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, made this observation during a courtesy call on the leaders of the Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum Bangladesh (SCRFB) at the shipping ministry yesterday. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), under the shipping ministry, is procuring these dredgers and their ancillary machinery and accessories at a cost of Tk. 4,400 crore. He also said all the illegal structures that have been built, grabbing riverbanks across the country, will be removed, freeing the river channels. The department concerned would have to ensure the quality of dredgers as per the tender agreement. If the supplier company or the department concerned fails to maintain the quality, they will face stern action, the junior minister said in reply to a query. Chowdhury added that the BIWTAs dredging department is looking after the matter. It is responsible for the construction of 35 new dredgers. Dredging work in four riversthe Jhinai, Ghagot, Bangshi and Nagdawill begin soon, he disclosed. The state minister also discussed the condition of the countrys rivers and the encroachments on them. Many people have established structures on riverbanks illegally and they will be evicted and their structures demolished in phases, he said. He sought the medias cooperation in this respect. The BIWTAs chief engineer (dredging), MA Matin, told this correspondent that these dredgers and their ancillary machinery and accessories will not be procured at a time. We will procure 35 dredgers, ancillary machinery and accessories in several packages. We have already invited tenders for three packages, he said in reply to a query. When asked about the quality of the dredgers, he replied, Well definitely ensure requirements in the Procurement of dredgers. There will be no compromise in terms of quality of the dredgers. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in October last year approved the project to procure 35 dredgers at a cost of Tk. 4,489.03 crore to maintain the navigability of 100 major rivers. The BIWTA will implement the dredging procurement project by June 2023. The government is financing the project with its own funds. According to the Development Project Proposal (DPP), two 28-inch cutter suction dredgers, eight 24-inch cutter suction dredgers, eight 20-inch cutter suction dredgers, nine 18-inch cutter suction dredgers, two 12-inch cutter suction dredgers and two trailing suction hopper dredgers will be procured. Besides, 25 crane boats, 18 tugboats, 35 houseboats, 15 houseboats for officers, 22 pipe-carrying barges, 10 dumb barges and excavators will also be procured. Currently, the BIWTA is operating 35 types of dredgers, including four amphibian ones, in its fleet. SCRFB president Asish Kumar Dey, SCRFB ex-president Anisur Rahman Khan, Dhaka Reporters Unity ex-general secretary Syed Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo and SCRFB general secretary Rafiqul Islam were present at the meeting, among others.