Dissent grows as Dhaka and Delhi are negotiating a deal on deployment of a surveillance system for Bangladesh's coast with procurement exclusively from an Indian company, officials said.
The department of shipping (DoS) strongly stood opposed to the provision of the proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) and said the deal could lack transparency unless the economic relations division (ERD) was involved with the process and any companies could compete in the bidding.
India will finance the setting up of coastal surveillance system (CSS), according to the draft MoU, and the Bharat Electronics System will supply the paraphernalia.
The DoS is already implementing a project, namely 'Establishment of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and Integrated Maritime Navigation System', under which modern equipment will be collected for maritime safety. A command-and- control centre will be set up in DoS under the projects.
Besides, the lighthouses in Cox's Bazar, St Martin's, and Kutubdia islands will be modernised, alongside setting up four new lighthouses, and seven coastal radio stations under the project.
On completion of the project, the DoS will be able to monitor vessels plying Bangladesh coast and ensure their security.
The DoS sent to the ministry of shipping its opinion on the proposed MoU, stating that the coastal surveillance system is incorporated into the GMDSS project. "Thus procuring the similar system on credit will be double spending of state funds," DoS director-general Syed Ariful Islam said.
Signing the MoU will lead to the duplication of surveillance system, he opined.
Besides, Mr Islam expressed reservation over some provisions of the proposed deal.
The article 2.1.1 mentions that Bangladesh (second party) shall need to accept the terms and conditions as set by the Bharat Electronics System, which is a private entity. "Accepting all conditions of a private entity by a country regarding buying its goods is not in line with the traditional norms, and can be dishonoring for the country," the DoS chief said in the note of dissent.
Referring to some articles of the MoU Mr Islam also mentioned that the interest of Bangladesh would be compromised if the MoU is singed for an indefinite period.
The articles 4 and 5 do not bear the interests of Bangladesh. The long-term deal may create barrier to collecting further developed surveillance system for Bangladesh's coast, he noted.
Contacted over telephone Sunday, the DoS chief told the FE a supplementary project adding some equipment with the GMDSS project can help make it a complete coastal surveillance system.
He said it is not clear why only an Indian company should be allowed to supply the system. Companies from other countries also should be allowed to take part in tender, Mr Islam said.
syful-islam@outlook.com
