Clarification, our reply

Drawing attention to The Daily Star news headlined "Tk 157cr Gas Plant: SGFL Board scraps 3rd re-tender process" published on May 16, the Sylhet Gas Field Ltd (SGFL) in a clarification said it was not aware of any powerful ruling party man playing a key role in cancellation of the re-tendering process for the gas processing plant.
The SGFL board cancelled the tender "in the interest of the company". "So, there is no link whatsoever with the change of chairman of the board and any outside influences," the clarification reads. The SGFL earlier extended the closing time for the tender upon request of the companies that purchased the tender documents, not under pressure from any lobby, SGFL said.
OUR REPLY
The clarification did not explain why the re-tendering process was cancelled and just made the claim that it was done "in the interest of the company". When eight companies had purchased bid documents and held pre-bid meetings, how can SGFL justify cancelling it without giving a good reason? The only explanation given by our sources is that a certain company--represented by a powerful ruling party man--was not prepared enough to participate even though the SGFL had extended the tender closing time by a month.
The history of tender processes for this processing plant repeatedly exposed foul play and the SGFL has failed to complete this tender since 2005. So, we stand by our report.