Contractors backed by local Awami League activists disrupted the tender procedure by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) for several small irrigation projects in Barisal district yesterday.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Abdullah Al Rashid, executive engineer at BADC and director of the projects, said the lottery to select tender proposals, which started at 11am at the BADC office, was suspended for indefinite period due to the disruption and chaos created by the ruling party followers.
The projects, worth Tk2.5 crore – were in different categories under 18 groups – blocks based on the size of land – covering four upazilas – Babuganj, Banaripara, Muladi and Wazirpur – in the district, he said.
Around 4,200 contractors submitted tender proposals for the projects, the BADC engineer added.
Several contractors who submitted tender proposals and officials at the BADC told the Dhaka Tribune that trouble ensued when the Awami League activists, led by Moin Tushar, protested the awarding of contracts to two bidders from outside of Barisal.
“The ruling party activists supporting some of the local bidders took position in the morning at the BADC office before the lottery, and when names of two contractors from Faridpur came up in the lottery, they started protesting,” said Ruhul Amin, one of the winning bidders from Faridpur.
“The situation became chaotic and there were a very few number police members who could not control the situation, so the BADC officials had not suspend the procedure,” he said.
The Barisal regional unit of the Department of Agricultural Extension covers 11 districts, which is why a huge number of contractors from other districts submitted tender proposals for the projects as well, Ruhul said.
The lottery was arranged to ensure a free and fair awarding of contracts, said several contractors from Barisal seeking anonymity. Ruhul said: “If we had known that it would not be the case, we would have abstained from participating.”
BADC Engineer Rashid said: “A new date for free and fair tender procedure will be announced soon. We will also ask for more help from the law enforcement agencies this time. No irregularities will be tolerated and no special group will be given undue privileges.”