Bidders lobbying hard to win satellite work

The deadline for submitting tender documents for Bangabandhu Satellite ends today amid international companies' desperate efforts to win the work order.

Six global players in the communication sector from five countries have bought bid documents for the installation and post-installation support services of the country's first commercial satellite, according to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

“Bidders can submit their tender documents to BTRC by 2pm. We will open the documents half an hour later,” said ATM Monirul Alam, commissioner for spectrum management of the industry watchdog.

The BTRC will start evaluating the proposals on Sunday. It may require some extra time as the issue is very technical, Alam added.

Officials of the BTRC said all of the six companies are lobbying with senior ministers to get the job.

An Indian diplomat met BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose yesterday, said Sarwar Alam, a BTRC spokesperson; but he said he had no idea what they discussed.

But other officials working with the satellite project said the two discussed the project.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Dhaka, also expressed his country's interest in helping Bangladesh install the satellite. One company from India has bought bid documents. 

The other companies are: Boeing from the US, Telus and Orbit from Canada, MDA Corporation from France and Great Wall Industry Corporation of China.

French Ambassador Sophie Aubert met Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday to convey her country's interest in the satellite project.

After the meeting, Muhith told reporters: “France is good at installing and launching satellites. But the bidding process will be very fair as we strongly believe in open market competition.”

In 2014, officials from Great Wall Industry Corp gave a presentation in front of the finance minister.

On several occasions, US senior officials also met the BTRC chief to discuss the issue, officials said.

The government plans to launch Bangabandhu Satellite, a communication and broadcasting satellite, by December 2017. The BTRC is the designated agency to deal with satellite related work.

The country will launch its first satellite on the 119.1 east longitude orbital slot, which was earlier purchased at $28 million from the Russian company Intersputnik.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved a Tk 2,967 crore project last September to help set up the satellite.

Of the amount, Tk 1,652.44 crore will be provided by the winning bidder, while the rest will come from the government.