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BGMEA building

Qualified bidder to get demolition job

FE Report | April 18, 2019 00:00:00


Housing and public works minister SM Rezaul Karim said they would appoint a qualified contractor on April 25 to demolish the 15-storey BGMEA building.

Briefing media over the process of dismantling the building on Hatirjheel lake, he said it would be razed by applying modern technology, not manually.

To this end, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) invited tenders through the print media on Wednesday, asking eligible firms to submit their bids by April 24.

"We'll scrutinise bidders' capability before appointing a contractor on April 25. We'll priorities local companies if they have enough capability. Otherwise, overseas contractors will be given the job," he said.

Mr Karim said Rajuk will demolish the structure on its own if it does not find any qualified demolisher.

Without explaining the demolition method in details, he said it would be finalised before the appointment of a contractor.

Referring to the Rangs building tragedy, the minister said, "We don't want to see a repetition of the bitter experience. We want to use updated technology."

In reply to a query, he said they would issue work order to the eligible contractor within seven days after April 25.

It would take maximum three months to tear down the building and clear the debris from the site in accordance with the court order, he added.

The deadline for relocating offices from the building of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) ended on April 12, 2019.

Accordingly, the Rajuk with the help of law-enforcers sealed off the high-rise commercial complex and cut off utility services on Tuesday.

In October 2010, following media reports over illegal structure the High Court (HC) issued a suo moto as to why the building would not be ordered to tear down.

In April 2011, a HC bench ordered to demolish the building. In a hearing, the BGMEA was asked to demolish the structure with its own finance.

Later, the BGMEA filed 'live to appeal' after receiving the full copy of the verdict and it was dismissed on June 02 in 2016.

UNB adds: A legal notice has been served on the BGMEA president to withdraw within three days their petition seeking one more year to demolish its building.

Lawyer Manzil Murshid sent the letter on Wednesday.

According to the notice, if the BGMEA does not withdraw their petition, a case will be filed on charge of court of contempt.

The notice said that earlier on April 02, 2018, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court granted one year to the BGMEA for demolishing its building following an undertaking.

The date expired on April 12 this year.

But the BGMEA filed another petition through advocate on record, seeking one year more which is the violation of the order passed by the higher court last year.

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