A much-needed initiative to build partnership with private firms for revival of the domestic laptop-assembling project gains ground as shortage of funds and alleged management lapses have virtually stalled the production process, officials said.
Under the move, the state-owned Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS) is going to float international tender, inviting aspirant companies-be they foreign or local-to join the bidding, according to them.
"Following the termination of the telecommunications minister, the process is being halted temporarily, as it requires approval from the ministry," said TSS Managing Director (MD) Husnul Mahmud Khan.
Abdul Latif Siddique was removed from the cabinet on October 12 following his derogatory comments on Hajj, Tablig and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that triggered uproars at home and abroad.
Claiming fund shortage as the major threat for the much-hyped laptop project, launched by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 2011, the official said this was going to be a fresh move to breathe life into the country's lone laptop plant.
"Presently, we are producing very few laptops under the project. It is just to manage salaries and other expenditures of the state-run company," the TSS boss said about the moribund state of the plant that makes one of most vital ICT tool for the knowledge economy and society.
In the last two years, the TSS had supplied nearly 42,000 units of different models of laptop against its monthly installation capacity of 6,000.
However, Mr Khan hopes that once the initiative implemented, production and supply of the low-cost laptop will almost double as investment and logistic supports for the much-hyped scheme won't remain a challenge.
The country's lone telephone-manufacturing company TSS has been running the laptop project with the financing of Tk 450 million from Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL).
Four models of laptop-'Primary 2102', 'Basic 0703', 'Standard 2603' and 'Advanced 1612'-had been planned to be assembled by the TSS.
But the manufacturing of the primary model had to be stopped within three months due to its massive operational problem.
Mr Khan told the FE that some renowned companies, mainly from China, already showed their interest to invest for revitalizing the project as it is a very profitable venture.
"At least five foreign firms from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have submitted their proposal in this connection," he said.
And, he added, at least one of those five proposals is outstanding as it contains a lucrative offer.
He said one of the five companies is willing to provide hundred-percent funding and logistic supports for the project with its 80-percent stake in profit. The government will receive 20 per cent without investment.
"However, we can't allow any company to work immediately as it requires necessary official procedures," he said.
So, they have moved to float open tender after getting necessary approval from the ministry.
"Through open tender, we will select the best-performing firms which will also offer most lucrative offer," he added.
Currently, TSS is selling three types of laptop at the following prices: Tk 15,500 (Basic 0703), Tk 20,000 (Standard 2603) and Tk 28,500 (Advanced 1612).
The primary model, which is now out of production, was the cheapest-costing Tk 10,000 only.
"There is no market demand for the basic-model laptop as its operational capacity is very limited," he said. Nowadays, the users are very advanced in technology.
He said considering the demand they are assembling 4th-generation devices like core I series RAM (random access memory) and sophisticated processor.
Mr Khan, however, said adequate skilled manpower still remained another hurdle for the project as most of the existing staff members are not educated on the latest technology.
Meanwhile, experts and sector-insiders have identified poor planning and corruption as major reasons behind the downfall of the much-talked-about Doel-brand laptop project.
"The authorities have taken the laptop-assembling initiative without having any market experiments, resulting in its massive failure," says Mustafa Jabbar, ex-president of Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS).
Preferring anonymity, another high official with the project said fund shortage isn't the major threat rather corruption and insincerity of some officials working with the project have pushed it into the pit of uncertainty.
"Despite the project facing survival threats, some of the high-ranking officials are financially gainer from the project," the officer alleged.
He demanded a strong audit that will reveal all of the irregularities.
He said some of the project-insiders aligned with some private firms have also been hatching deep conspiracy to deal a stumbling blow to the project so as to establish monopoly business on the market.
"Including some of the existing top bosses, officials are responsible for the failure," the former executive said and called upon the ministry to form a high-powered investigation committee on this matter.
TSS kicked off the Tk 1.48 billion laptop project by forming a joint-venture company with 2M Corporation Ltd and a Malaysia-based company, TFT. But its partners were removed from the project for their failure to comply with the requirements.
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