18 kms of Moulvibazar-Dhaka highway repair uncertain

The RHD has cancelled work order of the construction firm for "not completing the work on schedule".

The firm has filed a case with the High Court challenging the RHD action.

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The stretches of the highways are in Fenchuganj, Rajnagar, Moulvibazar, Srimongol, Shayestaganj and Jagadishpur.

The RHD had invited tender for reconstruction of the roads in September 2002.

On May 3, it gave work order to a Chittagong-based firm for reconstruction of eight kilometres of the highway between Moulvibazar and Srimongal at a cost of Tk four crore 90 lakh and 10 kilometres between Fenchugonj and Rajnagar at a cost of Tk five crore.

The work was to be completed by 120 days, RHD sources said when contacted.

But after expiry of the scheduled period, the firm completed only 16 per cent of the eight-kilometre road and one per cent of the 10-kilometre road, they claimed.

The sources said that seeing slow pace of work, RHD had issued a notice to the firm to complete the work on scheduled. But they did not gear up the work, they said.

On the contrary, the firm applied for more time to complete the work. But it failed to enclose bank guarantee against the prayer as per rule. So the contract with the firm was cancelled, they said. Now RHD is planning to float fresh tender, they said.

The Managing Director of the firm told journalists that RHD cancelled the contract without legal procedure. He said his firm has the right to get more time to complete the work because it has invested money and made some progress in the work.