Container scanners to be installed at Ctg port in two months
Country's export activities will enter a new era at the end of this year, as National Board of Revenue (NBR) expects to complete the installation of its container scanners at Chittagong seaport within the next two months.
“Yes, we expect to complete the installation of four container scanners by the end of this year,” NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid told the news agency over telephone on Thursday night.
He said they have already given the work order to supplier company, SGS Bangladesh.
The EU countries made it mandatory to install container scanners at ports by 2009 while the USA deadline is 2010 for importing any consignment from another country.
The government financed the container scanners at Chittagong seaport after the Asian Development Bank (ADB) refused to provide funds on the ground of a re-tendering plan by the government.
The ADB was supposed to fund the scheme, but later changed its mind following a government move to call fresh tender by scrapping the deal with a previous bid-winner for the job.
The scheme, which was initiated in 2003 by the BNP-led alliance government, envisages installation of scanner machines, computerisation of operational system and construction of a flyover to ease traffic congestion in the port area.
As the lowest bidder, pre-shipment inspection company M/s Cotecna Inspection SA had won the contract of the installation job. But the government cancelled the previous tender due to the cancellation of its agreement with Cotecna on charges of irregularities.
The NBR said the certificate of Cotecna was cancelled for violation of the Pre-Shipment Inspection Rules 2002.
After scrapping the previous tender, NBR wanted to re-tender the installation of four container-scanners and thus sought permission from the ADB. But the ADB refused to do so.
Later, the NBR prepared a summary of the project and sent it to the higher authorities, suggesting that the project could be implemented from domestic resources.
Another PSI company, SGS Bangladesh won the re-tender of the container scanner installation as the lowest bidder.
The NBR had moved years ago to upgrade the container-handling facilities in the country's prime seaport that handles more than 80 percent of the imports and exports.
The BNP-led government initiated the scheme in 2003 after security agencies seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the port area.
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