China moving away from Dhaka-Sylhet 4-lane project!
Published : 04 May 2017, 17:40
Although a Chinese firm is scheduled to start the construction work of the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway’s four-lane project by June, now the Chinese company is apparently moving away from the project.
According to the sources, the project has been stuck in the bargaining stage. The Chinese company is going to withdraw itself from the project, as it did not agree to the proposal of the Bangladesh government in this regard.
Chief engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Ibne Alam was reluctant to talk details on the issue.
He, however, told Banglanews that there is no development of the project. The Chinese company has not withdrawn itself till now. If it doesn’t work, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) will take final decision in this regard, he added.
The government signed a deal with the China Harbor Engineering Company Limited on October 9 in 2016 to upgrade the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway into a four-lane. The RHD and Chinese company signed the agreement in Dhaka.
According the agreement, the 226-kilometre highway from Kanchpur to Sylhet was scheduled to be upgraded at an estimated cost of about Tk 170 billion.
The project funded by the Chinese government was scheduled to begin by June in 2017 and complete by 2018.
Sources said that the China Harbor Engineering Company offered rates, estimating the construction expenditure of 2017. On the other hand, the Bangladesh government offered the rates, estimating the construction expenditure of 2014-15.
However, the Chinese company would agree to start the construction work if the Bangladesh government increases its offer rate by 25 per cent, the sources said,
Development expert and economist Dr MA Momen said that it is unexpected that the concerned ministry has not finalized the rates of the construction till now. If the Chinese firm withdraws itself, it will take five years more time to begin the construction work. “Why the bureaucrats of the government are not trying to understand the reality?” he asked.
Source: banglanews24