The state-run Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is set to procure four inland multipurpose container vessels from government agencies after a three-year legal fight, official sources said.
The move to procure the container vessels gathered pace as the High Court gave its verdict in favour of the government, said a senior official of the Shipping Ministry. The official added that the procurement processes had been delayed after the private shipyard owners association filed a case against the BIWTC over not procuring inland container vessels three years ago.
In 2010, the BIWTC decided to procure four vessels under the financing of the Japanese Debt Cancellation Fund (JDCF).
The Executive Committee on National Economic Council approved the project. After the legal complications blew over, Secretary to the Shipping Ministry Syed Manjrul Islam put forward a proposal for the construction of 158 TEUs for four inland multipurpose container vessels by the government owned agencies – Khulna Shipyard Limited and Bangladesh Navy and Chittagong Dry Dock Limited.
The cost of construction for two inland multipurpose container vessels by the Khulna Shipyard was Tk75.74 crore and the remaining two by the Chittagong Dry Dock Limited was Tk75.74 crore, according to the proposal.
The Shipping Ministry proposal for the procurement of the four container vessels will be placed on Sunday’s cabinet committee on public purchase for endorsement.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told the Dhaka Tribune, “We were unable to procure the four vessels because of legal complications, but it is over now.”
“We will procure the container vessels for BIWTC to boost its earning,” he also said.
BIWTC was established under the Presidential Order in 1972 and started its operations with 608 vessels.