Monthly Archives: March 2011

Strawberry farming getting popular in N-districts

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=128188&date=2011-03-06

Strawberry farming getting popular in N-districts

JOYPURHAT: A worker in a strawberry field at Jamalganj area under Akkelpur Upazila. — FE photo

Our Correspondent

JOYPURHAT, Mar 5: Strawberry cultivation is gaining popularity in Joypurhat and its farmers are making good profit by producing it in the district.

Strawberry cultivation begun last year on a small scale but its cultivation area is now increasing rapidly.

Ruhul Amin Reza, a successful cultivator of Jamalganj area under Akkelpur Upazila in the district and a founder cultivator of that area he is earning handsome profit from his crop for the last 2 years. He now has become a model farmer to the others farmers of the district.

Ruhul Amin Reza, an engineer, has cultivated strawberry on 8 bighas of land this year and is already earning from his production.

Reza told this correspondent that last year he began to cultivate it as a test case but after getting good benefit this year he was inpired to cultivate it commercially and hopes that this year he will earn Tk 2.0 to 2.5 million or more.

The agricultural department of this district said that the soil and weather of this district is favourable for strawberry cultivation.

Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of Joypurhat DAE said that if good seedlings and patronisation is provided to the farmers it may prove to be a good example for other to come forward.

Rangpur

BSS adds from Rangpur : Harvest of strawberry has already begun with excellent yields of the high- valued delicious fruit in northern Bangladesh this season, officials and experts said.

Harvest of the fruit will get full momentum soon and continue till May next as hundreds of enthusiastic farmers and commoners have cultivated the fruit on commercial basis this season in the region.

Bangladesh Strawberry Association launched coordinated strawberry research and cultivation activities involving various seed farms and nurseries in recent years that quickly popularised its farming.

The officials and experts said that Prof Dr Manjur Hossain of the Department of Botany of Rajshahi University (RU) first pioneered the technology and launched strawberry farming using tissue culture method.

Many farmers have cultivated strawberry and already started its early harvests in Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Joypurhat, Naogaon and other northern districts this season.

Many others have also cultivated the fruits at their homesteads and also on their roof tops using the tubs to have tastes of one of the most nutritious and flavourful fruits in the region.

Local people said that commercial basis strawberry farming has already become very popular in Haldharjyote village under Sadar Upazila of Panchagarh paving the way for its further expanded cultivation in the area.

Strawberry expert and Deputy Secretary Mahbubul Alam and Horticulturist Mezbahul Islam told the news agency that the soil, climate and topographic conditions of the region are very much suitable for strawberry cultivation.

Head of Agriculture and Environment of RDRS Bangladesh Dr MG Neogi said that expanded farming of strawberry could open a new horizon in the rural agriculture sector if easier marketing facilities could be ensured at the grassroots levels.

They elaborated how Dr Manjur evolved RU-1, RU-2 and RU-3 (Rabi-1,2,3) varieties of strawberry through tissue culture method using Semiclonal Variation Technology at the Plant Breeding and Gene Engineering Laboratory at Botany Department in RU.

The experts and strawberry grower Hafizur Rahman of Panchagarh emphasised the need for dissemination of the technological ideas and innovation of ways for its expanded cultivation and easy marketing in the region.

3.5 million farmers likely to pick 25% higher rice yield from new project

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=164688&date=2011-03-04

3.5 million farmers likely to pick 25% higher rice yield from new project

DHAKA, March 4 (BSS) – An estimated 3.5 million farmers of 11 districts of the country are expected to reap high benefit from a donor-funded new project that assures of raising rice production by 25 percent.

Agriculture Minister Begum Motia Chowdhury along with the US Ambassador to Bangladesh, James F Moriarty will launch the project in Nalitabari, Sherpur tomorrow, official sources said here today.

According to project managers, farmers will see an income rise of Taka 15,000 from one hectare of land that would yield an additional 800 kg of paddy with one- third less uses of fertilizers.

The project promotes diffusion of fertilizer deep placement (FDP) technology, an innovation that claims to be highly suitable for rice production by efficient uses of chemical fertilizers—placing fertilizer granules near root zones of the plant. It will also focus on efficient uses of other agricultural inputs, including quality seeds and judicious use of water for higher land productivity.

The land productivity, according to the project profile, has fallen drastically in the past decades by the existing cropping pattern and intensity, losing an average two million metric tones of soil nutrients every year. It says deficiency of phosphorus and potassium in soil is on the rise.

“Farmers try to cover the soil nutrient losses through application of nitrogenous fertilizer which fails to attain objective and results in declining soil nutrient status of arable lands,” a senior official said.

Not only that, he said, the conventional use of urea fertilizer on land surface causes a 65 percent loss of nitrogen which in compound form is added to plants or lawns to stimulate growth.

Plants that do not have enough nitrogen turn yellow and eventually perish from a lack of food. The FDP technology prevents nitrogen losses by 50 percent.

The staple rice production in Bangladesh, the 6th largest rice producer in Asia, is a crucial part of the national economy, accounting for about 75 percent of agricultural land use and 28 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Its production increased year on year but the annual increases have generally been modest.

In 2010 paddy production hit a record level of 50.3 million tonnes, about 4 percent higher than the previous year’s record crop. But the 1.5 increase of population every year and soaring price of rice in the world market have compelled Bangladesh to go for production of more rice for ensuring food security-if not food sovereignty at this stage.

High yielding varieties from abroad have been tried in research sites to adapt those with local environment. The new project- co-financed by the U.S- is expected to add more value to government endeavours, project managers said.

The project-Accelerating Agriculture Productivity Improvement (AAPI)- will initially be tried in the districts of Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Patuakhali, Borguna, Bagerhat, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Gopalganj, Mymensingh and Sherpur.

Industrial park to be set up at Ichakhali char in Mirsarai: Barua

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/10217.html

Industrial park to be set up at Ichakhali char in Mirsarai: Barua
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

A plan is underway to establish an industrial park at Ichakhali char in Mirsarai upazila of Chittagong, industries minister Dilip Barua said on Thursday.

More than 17,000 acres of land would be allocated for developing the park as per the directive of the prime minister, he said while visiting the proposed industrial park site at Mirsarai, said an official release.

Deputy commissioner of Chittagong Foyez Ahmed, Mirsarai upazila chairman M Gias Uddin, officials of Local Government Engineering Department and local dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Barua said local and foreign investors would be encouraged to invest in the proposed industrial park.

The government would take plan to link the industrial park with Chittagong port access road-Sitakunda-Fouzdarhat-Mirsarai-Muhuri Project-Feni, he said adding that the road link would propel the growth of shipbuilding and ship breaking industries.

Govt to set up modern light engineering park in future

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/others/37197-govt-to-set-up-modern-light-engineering-park-in-future.html

Govt to set up modern light engineering park in future
STAFF REPORTER

DHAKA, MAR 3: Industries minister Dilip Barua, on Wednesday, announced to set up a separate modern light engineering industrial park for the smooth growth of the sector. “The industries ministry is working relentlessly to set up a modern light engineering industrial park in association with the help of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) under PPP (Public-Private Partnership),” the industries minister said.

Dilip Barua made the comment while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Second International Engineering and Industrial Technology Tradeshow (BIET 2011) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) onWednesday.

Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) and India-based ASK Trade and Exhibitions, jointly organised the four-day long trade expo at the BICC premises, along with the Solar Power Expo and KRISHI Bangladesh.

The inaugural ceremony of the expo was presided over by the BEIOA’s president Abdur Razzaque, while president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), AK Azad, and chairman of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Fakrul Islam, addressed the ceremony as the special guests.

Grasping the economical importance of the light engineering industry, Barua said, the government has already given recognition to the sector by including the sector in the industrial policy as a thrust sector.

The exporters of light engineering products are enjoying 10 per cent cash incentive to boost the export earning, Barua added. “Our home made light engineering products have a colossal demand in the US market as the US importers have already expressed keen interest in importing light engineering products from Bangladesh,” the minister said.

“I believe the Second International Engineering Products and Technology Tradeshow BIET-2011 will play a meaningful role in disseminating the local light engineering products as well as the event will help the entrepreneurs of the sector in introducing with the world’s latest technology,” he said.

Terming the acute shortage of gas and electricity as a major obstacle to the industrialisation process, FBCCI president AK Azad said that I can take the responsibility of private sector if gas and electricity problems are resolved.

The foreign investment would be increased in Bangladesh if the government assures of smooth supply of gas and electricity, he said.

BEIOA president Abdur Razzaque said that the trade show will help our sector and members to modernise and expand by sourcing the new machinery and parts being displayed at the fair.

A total of over 100 industries from Bangladesh, India and China are taking part at the event to display the latest technological advancements of industrial and engineering equipment, materials, services and technologies in related fields, from Bangladeshi and foreign companies, organisers said.

The show will be open for visitors from 10am to 8pm everyday.

Two rental plants ready to swing170MW power to national grid this month

http://www.daily-sun.com/?view=details&type=daily_sun_news&pub_no=146&cat_id=1&menu_id=3&news_type_id=1&index=2

Two rental plants ready to swing170MW power to national grid this month

Two quick rental power plants having total capacity of 170 megawatts of electricity are expected to come into operation by March 26.

Of the plants, a 100MW furnace oil-fired power plant in Madanganj will start supplying electricity on March 26, an official of the power division told daily sun yesterday.

“We are planning to inaugurate the power plant, owned by Summit Group, by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

The plant is already on test run, he added.

Besides, a gas-fired plant in Brahmanbaria, having a capacity of 70MW, will start generating electricity by this month, he said.

The plant, owned by Aggriko, an UK-based company, is preparing to go into operation.

He also informed that two other plants having capacity of 200 megawatts is also expected to generate power by next month.

The power plants are—-102MW Khulna Power plant, owned by Sumit Group and 100MW Chapainowabganj power plant, owned by Sinha group.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved generating nearly 1,300MW electricity through high cost rental projects by modification of the procurement policy to ease power crisis during Boro irrigation.

Water purifying plant installed for villagers

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=128014&date=2011-03-04

Water purifying plant installed for villagers
FE Report

Canada-Bangladesh Trade Promotion Centre Inc (CBTPC), a Canada-based non-profit organisation has introduced a water purifying plant for the country’s poor people who are the major victims of polluted water.

They have already started such a pilot project in Kushtia with the help of the local sponsors, said CBTPC officials.

The officials said this Thursday when they were speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club on the eve of international conference on “safe water for Bangladesh” which will be held on March 06 organised by CBTPC in the city.

CBTPC chairman Alimur Rahman, president Anisuzzaman, project director Hasanuzzaman, Shamsul Alam Syed, were present at the press conference.

The CBTPC chairman said the people will get cent per cent pure drinking water through this system as the technology will provide safe water maintaining World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

He said they recently installed a small plant in Kushtia which produces 5000 gallons of water per day. About 2000 villagers, students of one primary school, one secondary school and devotees of a mosque, are beneficiaries of the plant.

“But we will extend this service across the country if we get sponsors who will provide the logistic support in their respective areas,” said the chairman.

He said if necessary they will also collect fund from foreign sources to bear installation costs.

A small-sized water purifying plant which is imported from Canada costs Tk 1.2 to Tk 1.5 million, he added.

“The objective of this press conference is to draw the attention of stake-holders in safe water, healthcare and poverty alleviation,” said the chairman.

He also said they are bringing together experts from Canada, the United States of America, India and Bangladesh to look into this problem and find solutions for providing safe water across the country.

Mega plan taken for raising navigability of rivers: Ramesh Chandra

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=7&id=164483&date=2011-03-03

Mega plan taken for raising navigability of rivers: Ramesh Chandra

SANGSAD BHABAN, March 3 (BSS)- The present government has undertaken a mega plan for raising navigability of the main and important rivers through their dredging across the country.

“Under the plan titled ‘Capital Dredging’, the work on dredging and excavating a number of rivers is going on,” Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen told the House in reply to a question raised by treasury bench member Md Shahriar Alam.

“The projects included in the plan are: the Taka 942.15 crore Gorai River Restoration Project, the Taka 944.09 crore Buriganga River Restoration Project, the Taka 1082 .12 crore Capital (Pilot) Dredging of River System in Bangladesh Project, the Taka 1309.88 crore Dredger and Ancillary Equipment Procurement Project and the Taka 59.53 core Chandana Barasia River Re-excavation Project,” he said.

Besides, Ramesh said, a concept paper titled ‘Capital Dredging and River Strategy of Bangladesh’ has been formulated. Under the concept paper, a strategy paper has been prepared for implementation of short, mid and long-term projects for dredging of main and important rivers across the country, he said.

After the approval of the projects, he added, the rest of the projects will be enacted, approved and implemented.

“The five-year seven projects that have been included in the mega plan are; the Pilot/Capital Dredging of River System in Bangladesh, the Buriganga River Restoration Project ( New Dhakeswari-Pungli- Bangshi-Turag-Buriganga River System), the Procurement of Dredgers and Ancillary Equipment for River Dredging of Bangladesh, the Kalni-Kushiara River Dredging, the Hisna- Mathavanga River Restoration Project, the and Dredging/Re-excavation of Modhumoti River, the Gorai River Restoration Project(Phase-II),” he said.

The water resources minister said 13 projects with the tenure of 13 years have been taken under the plan.

The projects are the Old Brahmaputra River Management Project, the Arial Khan River Restoration Project, the Lower Boral River Restoration Project, the Dredging/ Reexcavation of Kumar River, the Dredging/Reexcavation of Madaripur Beel Route, the Dredging/Reexcavation Chandana-Brasia River, the Dredging/Re- excavation Sutang River, the Dredging/Re-excavation, the Dredging and Re-excavation of Piyain River, the Dredging/Re-excavation of Lower Kangsha (Ghulamkhali and Updakhali) River, the Dredging Re-excavation of Bhogai River, the Bhairab River Restoration project and the Nabaganga River Restoration Project.

He also said the government would implement a 15-year mega project named the Capital Dredging of Major Rivers in Bangladesh for dredging of big rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna.

Hilsha export 3,915 metric tonnes in six months

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=7&id=164482&date=2011-03-03

Hilsha export 3,915 metric tonnes in six months, shrimp earnings to mark record high this year

SANGSAD BHABAN, Mar 3 (BSS)- In the first six months of the current fiscal, the country exported 3,915 metric tonnes of Hilsha fish and 30,431 metric tonnes of shrimp.

Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Abdul Latif Biswas said this in reply to a question from ruling party member Kamal Ahmed
Majumder in Jatiya Sangsad during question answer session.

The minister said the government has undertaken 19 development projects and two revenue budget projects for development of fishery resources. The projects helped increasing fish production in the country.

The minister said last year the government has given 1,66,740 fishermen 30 -kilogram rice each per month to refrain them from fishing during breeding period.

Replying to a question from another treasury bench member Sanjida Khanam the minister said Bangladesh exports shrimp in European countries, USA and Japan which are major importers of shrimp. While Hilsha fishes were exported mainly to India, UK and Middle East countries.

He said Bangladesh earned Taka 2,825 crore in 2009-2010 by exporting 51,599 metric tonnes of shrimp and Taka 124 crore from Hilsha export.

Last six months trend shows that shrimp export this year would set a new record, the minister hoped.

High-tech parks to be set up in all districts: Yeafesh Osman

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=7&id=164543&date=2011-03-03

High-tech parks to be set up in all districts: Yeafesh Osman

SANGSAD BHABAN, March 3 (BSS)- In line with its Digital Bangladesh programme, the government has a plan to set up high-tech parks in all districts to expand information and communication technology (ICT) facilities across the country.

“Activities for setting up high-tech parks have already started in some districts following the necessary directives that have been given to the deputy commissioners,” State Minister for Science and ICT Architect Yeafesh Osman told the House today.

In reply to a private member resolution brought by Awami League member ABM Abul Kashem, the state minister said the present government is pledge-bound to turn Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 by building Digital Bangladesh.

“Every person of the country would enjoy the benefit of Digital Bangladesh,” he hoped.

Osman also said the present government wants to set up IT park and village in all districts with a view to building a future generation who would be skilled in knowledge and science.

He also said the preliminarily works for setting up a high-tech park at Kaliakoir has already been completed, while its final work would begin very soon.

“Sixteen firms have made expression of interest (EOI) following floating tender of EOI for development of the park,” he added.

Japan-Hong Kong jointly invest US$ 3.5 Million in Comilla EPZ

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=163928&date=2011-02-28

Japan-Hong Kong jointly invest US$ 3.5 Million in Comilla EPZ

DHAKA, Feb 28 (BSS)- CAT Garment Company Limited, a Japan-Hong Kong company, will set up a garment manufacturing industries in Comilla Export Processing Zone.

This foreign owned company will invest 3.5 million US Dollar in setting up their unit to manufacture garments items, said a handout here today.

The company will also create employment opportunity for 533 Bangladeshi nationals.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and CAT Garment Company Limited in BEPZA complex here.

Mohammad Moyjuddin Ahmed, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Yasuhiro Yanagisawa, Chairman of CAT Garment Company Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

Major General A T M Shahidul Islam, Executive Chairman of BEPZA, Abu Reza Khan, Member (Engineering), Md Shawkat Nabi, Secretary, AZM Azizur Rahman, General Manager (Investment Promotion) and other officials of BEPZA were present at the signing ceremony.

BB steps into new era of fund transfer

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/banking/36691-bb-steps-into-new-era-of-fund-transfer.html

BB steps into new era of fund transfer
STAFF REPORTER

Dhaka, Feb 28: Bangladesh Bank (BB) has introduced Electronic Fund Transfer Network (EFTN) among 40 private commercial and state-owned banks and their country-wide branches in order to make financial transaction easier and faster.    With the EFTN credit transfer initiatives, the central bank will provide the foundation for access to every banked and non-banked consumer as well as every business customer to facilitate electronic commerce, inward remittance and salary payment by least fees and shorter time.

BB governor Dr. Atiur Rahman formally inaugurated the EFTN at a function organised by the central bank at its’ headquarters in the city.

Terming the EFTN initiative a ‘milestone’ for the banking history in Bangladesh, the central bank governor said the network will have extensive reach by connecting, for the first time, between all of the banks in Bangladesh for electronic funds transfer.

He said the creation of the EFTN is the most critical component in the development of a modern payments system infrastructure.

“It is an electronic highway in digital banking. In the near future, I expect that all banks will begin processing electronic funds transfers on the network,” he said.

The BB governor also maintained that transaction volume on the network will grow slowly as banks would explain the benefits of electronic payments to their clients.

He said the education and marketing efforts are necessary to maximize all of the capabilities of the network will be significant but the long-term benefit to the people of Bangladesh will be immense.

“EFTN is an integral component in reaching the goal of a “Digital Bangladesh” for financial services,” said the governor.

During a power-point presentation, BB official Khandaker Ali Kamran Al Jahid said EFT debit transfer applications will be commence by next six months.

Under the EFT debit, bank clients could be able to pay utility bills, license fees and tax to the receiving bank clients simply by instructing the original bank where he or she owned an account, Kamran said.

He said the central bank earlier introduced Automated Cheque Processing System (ACPS) and the EFTN was the latest addition to the central bank’s initiative towards digital banking.

He said both the EFTN and ACPS projects were implemented by the central bank in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID). Over the past two years, a significant progress has been made in achieving the goals of the initiative, he said.

He said ACPS went live on 7 October 2010 and is currently clearing approximately 80,000 cheque images per day with an aggregate value of Tk 2,200 crore in the Normal cheque exchange and over 2,500 High Value cheques totaling Tk 1,700 crore in the High Value clearing cycle per day.

He said both the time and cost have been saved by the ACPS. He said average cost of a cheque is USD 1.25 globally while the cost of single use of ACPS is only 10 cents.
He said over 112 lakh cheques were processed under the ACPS system for a value of Tk 4,500 crore on 22 February 2011 till its’ introduction. All of the nation’s forty-eight bank are participating in ACPS.

The inaugural session was addressed by Nazrul Islam Khan, Project Director, Access to Information Program of the Prime Minister’s Office, Ziaul Hassan Siddiqui and Murshid Quli Khan, deputy governors of the central bank, John Gothard, contracts manager of the consulting agency Crown Agents, Nayeni Fernando, BACH project Implementation Manager, Asim Kumar Das Gupta, Project Director of BACPS and Chowdhury Muhidul Huq, project director of BEFTN, among others.

Govt takes Tk 492 crore projects to modernize Mongla port

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/36831-govt-takes-tk-492-crore-projects-to-modernize-mongla-port.html

Govt takes Tk 492 crore projects to modernize Mongla port
BSS

Dhaka, Mar 1: Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan today said in the Jatiya Sangsad the government has given priority for developing and modernizing country’s second largest sea port and already taken up ten projects for it. “ The projects with an estimated cost of Taka 492 crore are being implemented to make the port fully operative as early as possible,” he said replying to a question raised by lawmaker Begum Salma Islam in the house.

He said a total of Taka 59 crore has been allocated in the budget of 2010-2011 financial year under annual development programme (ADP) for those projects.

Besides, there is a plan to implement another five projects estimated cost of Taka 1802.80 crore for this port under sixth five-year plan, he said.

CPA to spend Tk 370 cr for dredging the Karnaphuli

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/36685-cpa-to-spend-tk-370-cr-for-dredging-the-karnaphuli.html

CPA to spend Tk 370 cr for dredging the Karnaphuli
ANISUR RAHMAN KHAN

Dhaka, Feb 28: Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) will implement the “Capital dredging and bank protection with jetty facilities on the Karnaphuli river, from Sadarghat jetty to third Karnaphuli Bridge” project, at a cost of Tk. 370 crore from its own funds, shipping ministry sources said yesterday. The shipping ministry had approved the project on October 19, 2009, and forwarded it to the Cabinet for final approval.

As per the summary that has been prepared for the purchase committee of the Cabinet on February 20, implementation period of the project has been marked from January 2009 to December 2012.

According to the approved development project profile (DPP), a total of 35.40 lakh cubic metres would be dredged, along with the construction of 2,615-metre bank-protection, construction of 1,750 metres of RCC jetty, and other temporary works.

The CPA has invited international pre-qualification tenders on March 23, last year, while proposal evaluation committee (PEC) pre-qualified 12 organisations for the project.

After a pre-bid meeting on November 1, last year, the CPA had finally invited tenders from 12 pre-qualified organisations.

Of those 12 companies, four had submitted their tenders on December 1, last year. The companies were – China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, Malaysian Maritime and Dredging Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Banga Dredgers Ltd and Rafique Construction Co. (JV) and Chinese Sinohydro Co. Ltd.

The technical evaluation committee (TEC) formed by the CPA had conducted a preliminary examination of the tenders on December 5, last year. Following a scrutiny, the committee expressed its satisfaction, and asked the four companies to submit required papers, along with documents like confirmation authentication on bank guarantee.

Malaysian Maritime and Dredging Corporation Sdn. Bhd was selected as the first lowest bidder (Tk. 246.76 crore), while Banga Dredgers Ltd and Rafique Construction Co. (JV) was the second lowest (Tk. 343.95 crore). China Harbour Engineering Company Limited had been the third lowest bidder (Tk. 536.57 crore), and Sinohydro Co. Ltd remained the fourth lowest (Tk. 659.97 crore).

The technical committee has submitted the procurement project to the shipping ministry on January 13, after finishing the evaluation.

Chairman of the CPA, Comdr K Anwarul Huq, told The Independent that the implementation of the project would increase navigability in the upstream of the Karnaphuli, adding that the proposed jetty could also be used as a service jetty.