CPA turns to minister over discord on NMCT bidding

CHITTAGONG. Jun 24: The Chittagong Port Authority sought approval of the Shipping Ministry to award a contract of container handling at two berths of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NMCT).
The permission was sought following the demand made by a section of bidders to follow the Public Procurement Rules properly in the tender process.
Saif Powertec accompanied by two other firms was found qualified by the technical evaluation committee of the CPA to handle cargoes at the two berths of the Chittagong Port.
The committee scrutinised three tenders on June 9 last and found the offer of Saif Powertec and its two partners valid for container handling at the berth nos. 4 and 5.
The two other firms - MH Chowdhury Shipping and A&J Enterprise are co-partners in the quotation submitted by Saif Powertec. Chittagong city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin is chairman of MH Shipping and Awami League MP from Noakhali Sadar Akramul Karim is owner of the A&J Enterprise.
They submitted quotations in two separate envelopes for technical and financial evaluation. Saif Powertec and its partners quoted the price at Tk 496.40 million (49.6 crore) to handle the containers for two years. Chairman of Berth Operators, Ship Handling Operators and Terminal Operators and Owners Association Fazley Ekram Chowdhury demanded cancellation of the tender called by the CPA for the NMCT.
He said that the CPA violated the Public Procurement Rules by amending them. "The amendments have been made unilaterally to offer special advantage to a particular operator," he added.
He said the matter was now lying with the High Court.
The Saif Powertec is already handling containers at the NMCT under the direct procurement method.