Dhaka has assured Washington of fair competition in bidding process in the future for collecting dredgers and welcomed US companies to compete for deals, officials said.
The assurance came as the US embassy in Dhaka in a recent letter to shipping minister Shajahan Khan sought cooperation 'in awarding tender to a most qualified bidder'.
"I would like to inform you that in future we will arrange open tender competition (international) for purchasing the remaining dredgers under the project 'procurement of 20 dredgers with ancillary equipment and capital dredging in waterways'," assistant chief of the ministry of shipping (MoS) Sabina Eyasmin wrote in replying to the letter of Charge d' Affaires of the embassy David Meale.
There is no other scope to participate in this process as per public procurement act, she noted.
A senior MoS official said months back, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) had floated an international tender to collect 10 dredgers under the project.
Some US dredger makers were interested to participate in the bidding but couldn't for failing to meet some of the criteria. Thereafter, in June this year, Mr Meale wrote to the shipping minister introducing some American dredger makers to allow them in the bidding process.
However, that time none of the Americans participated in the tender process.
The official also said in mid-September Mr Meale again wrote to the shipping minister in support of American dredger-makers for participation in bidding.
"I would like to continue to support our American dredger manufacturers as the tender process progresses since our last communication in June. The ambassador joins me in encouraging an award to the most qualified bidder and supporting your efforts for a fair and open competition," wrote the Charge d' Affaires.       Â
Another MoS official told the FE the government has planned to carry out massive dredging activities to ensure navigability in the rivers across the country.
In this regard, project is taken to collect dredgers and any qualified dredger manufacturers of any country can participate when an international tender is floated.
"The tender process is fair and competitive," the official said to a query.
Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Mozammel Haque told the FE tender under second phase of the project for collecting dredgers will be floated by next February.
"If US companies can meet the criteria, they are welcome to participate in the bid," he said.
 Mr Haque also said various river-dredging projects are underway to make the waterways navigable. A Tk 35 billion-worth tender for dredging 9,500 kilometres of waterways awaits nod of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Thereafter, an international tender will be floated, asking dredging companies to compete for the job. The US companies are also welcome, too, he said.
 The BIWTA chairman also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked for dredging country's entire waterways in next five years to ensure navigability, as many rivers dry up in dry season.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and BIWTA are jointly preparing a project for such re-excavation of 18,000 kilometres of waterways over the next five years in line with the PM's directives.
Presently, BIWTA has 18 dredgers and BWDB a few to dredge the rivers. The government employs foreign dredger companies to dredge various river routes as local agencies fail to provide necessary services with a small number of dredgers.
According to BIWTA projection water draft of most of the river routes drops below 2.0 metres and the highest 3.66 metres in case of a few routes during winter season.
"Country's river routes need continuous dredging to keep them navigable," said Mr Haque.
    syful-islam@outlook.com
BD welcomes US dredger makers
Syful Islam | Published: October 29, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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