New Mooring Container Terminal Operation
Submission of tender ends today amid controversy
Amid controversy and opposition from different corners, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is all set to collect tender documents regarding appointment of private operators for its New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
Six previously qualified local and international firms have to submit the documents by 2:30pm today as today is the scheduled last date for submitting the documents.
Earlier on Tuesday, Awami League Chittagong city unit President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury at a press conference demanded that CPA postpones the date of submitting the tender documents raising allegation of irregularities in the process.
A review panel formed by Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) in a notice issued on Tuesday to CPA chairman and shipping ministry secretary told them to refrain from further progress regarding the tender of NCT till disposal of a review appeal made by one of the six pre-qualified firms.
In the notice, the CPTU also directed the ministry's secretary, CPA chairman, project director of NCT project and the petitioner to attend a hearing on September 2 in respect of the tender for the appointment of operators.
The CPTU issued the notice following the review appeal made by Jose Manuel M De Jesus, vice-president of International Container Terminal Services, a Manila-based container operator firm which was selected as pre-qualified firm by an evaluation committee on February 12 in 2009 to operate the NCT.
Contacted, Captain Nazmul Alam, director of the NCT project, said they would collect the tender documents on the scheduled date as per rules.
According to Public Procurement Act 2008 no treaty could be signed till disposal of the review appeal but tender submission and evaluation could be done, he said.
During the tenure of caretaker government on March 12 in 2007, the shipping ministry decided to run the 1000-metre long terminal under Supply, Operate and Transfer (SOT) basis.
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