NBR keen to install container-scanners at CP by July
Sunday, 29 June 2008
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will soon place a proposal to buy container-scanners for Chittagong Port (CP) with the government's purchase committee for approval as the regulator intends to end a protracted course by July, reports UNB.
"The procurement proposal will be sent to the purchase committee, and after the approval we will finish the work by July," NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid said Saturday.
The NBR had moved proposals to upgrade the container-handling facilities of the country's prime seaport that handles more than 80 per cent of the imports and exports, but the process was stalled over a bidding debacle.
The BNP-led coalition initiated the scheme in 2003 after the security agencies seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition in the port area.
Initially, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was supposed to provide $30.06 million in loan under an integrated scheme envisaging installation of the container-scanners. Construction of a flyover was another important component of the project.
But a complex situation surfaced later over the cancellation of a previous tender in which pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company M/S Cotecna Inspection SA was the lowest bidder to get the job.
The NBR cancelled the tender since it found Cotecna involved in various irregularities. The revenue board also cancelled the certificate of Cotecna as PSI agent, and the government decided not to give any other job to the company.
The government then wanted to re-tender the installation work. But the ADB was not happy with the move, and decided not to provide the fund. The lending agency's decision has prompted the government to mobilise the fund from domestic sources.
"The Chief Adviser has already approved the project to complete it with local fund," the NBR Chairman said.
"The procurement proposal will be sent to the purchase committee, and after the approval we will finish the work by July," NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid said Saturday.
The NBR had moved proposals to upgrade the container-handling facilities of the country's prime seaport that handles more than 80 per cent of the imports and exports, but the process was stalled over a bidding debacle.
The BNP-led coalition initiated the scheme in 2003 after the security agencies seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition in the port area.
Initially, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was supposed to provide $30.06 million in loan under an integrated scheme envisaging installation of the container-scanners. Construction of a flyover was another important component of the project.
But a complex situation surfaced later over the cancellation of a previous tender in which pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company M/S Cotecna Inspection SA was the lowest bidder to get the job.
The NBR cancelled the tender since it found Cotecna involved in various irregularities. The revenue board also cancelled the certificate of Cotecna as PSI agent, and the government decided not to give any other job to the company.
The government then wanted to re-tender the installation work. But the ADB was not happy with the move, and decided not to provide the fund. The lending agency's decision has prompted the government to mobilise the fund from domestic sources.
"The Chief Adviser has already approved the project to complete it with local fund," the NBR Chairman said.