Tenders for 10 to be floated pending ECNEC approval

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Munima Sultana
Pending formal approval of ECNEC, the government is going to invite tenders for 10 projects of the communications ministry to be implemented under Indian credit.
Officials said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already given approval of the communications ministry's proposal in exercise of her power under Article 33 of Rules of Business 1996.
They said the initiative to call tenders for these projects in advance was taken to speed up the process of implementation as the concerned agencies could start the work soon after getting ECNEC approval.
"As the next ECNEC meeting is unlikely to be held this month due to the prime minister's foreign visit, the ministry took the initiative to precede the procedure," said a senior official.
He said the step was also taken considering the need of carrying out the development work speedily in the country.
The communications ministry Monday informed the Indian High Commission about the government decision. The Prime Minister gave her approval on November 14 soon after the Communication Secretary issued the request letter.
Officials said some 17 projects of Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh Railway and Bangladesh Roads Transport Corporation have been planned for implementation under the Indian letter of credit agreements aiming at giving transit and transshipment facility to the neighbouring country.
Of the 17 projects, the ministry has received ECNEC approval for seven projects in November. Among the rest 10, nine projects are still at planning stage as the Planning Commission has sent back development project proposals (DPP) to the ministry for some revisions. Only one project - Development of Baraiyarhat-Heanko-Ramgar-Sabrum Land port connecting road of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) - is awaiting ECNEC approval after Planning Commission okayed it.
The projects to be implemented under Bangladesh Railway (BR) through advance tenders include construction of Khulna-Mongla Port rail line with feasibility study, procurement of 150 metre gauge coaches and 100 metre gauge tank wagons and 30 broad gauge locomotives.
RHD's projects include improvement of Lalmonirhat-Burimari road and development of Baraiyarhat-Heanko-Ramgar-Sabrum land port connecting road. BRTC will also procure double-decker, single-deckers air conditioned and articulated buses with the Indian credit by inviting tenders in advance.
India offered $1-billion credit to Bangladesh during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's January visit to New Delhi. The credit has been offered in exchange of access to Chittagong Port with transit and transshipment facilities through Bangladesh to the remotest northeastern region.