Cadres of Awami League backed contractors in Barisal on Wednesday forced Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation official to suspend tender procedure of small irrigation projects under 18 groups worth Tk 2.5 core.Engineer Abdullah Al Rashid , executive engineer BADC (irrigation) and project director , said the tender of 7 groups under Babuganj-Muladi Upazila development progrramme and tender of 11 groups under Banaripara-Wajirpur upazilas were closed on October 6 and 4,200 contractors participated by submitting tender forms. Wednesday was the opening and lottery-date of the tenders and it started duly at the BADC office at about 11:00 AM, he added.As undisciplined situation was created during lottery, we decided to stop lottery of tender for indefinite period, the BADC official told.After visiting the spot and talking with the contractors and officials it was learnt that ruling party cadres led by BCL leader Moin Tushar from Wednesday morning took position in the BADC office campus.Witnesses said after two farms of Faridpur district succeeded to get the tender in lottery, then cadres led by BCL leader Moin Tushar started hue and cry protesting giving tender works to the farms outside Barisal district. Ruhul Amin, proprietor of lottery winner Talukdar Construction, said Barisal regional agriculture extension department included 11 districts. So huge number of contractors from Faridpur and other districts participated in the tenders. But while contractors outside Barisal district started to get tender in lottery, then cadres of local contractors started hue and cry and created chaos. There were very few numbers of police and the BADC authourity in this situation declared to postpone lottery for indefinite period, he added.If we could assume earlier that tender procedure in Barisal BADC would not be free and fair, then we must abstain from participating in tenders, Ruhul Amin added.
However one group of contractors from Barisal denying disclosing names opined that they wanted free fair distribution of tender works and so lottery was arranged.Engineer Abdullah al Rashid, executive engineer BADC (irrigation) Barisal and project director, said fresh date for continuation of free fair tender procedure would be announced soon. More help from law enforcing agencies would be taken during that time. No irregularities would be tolerated and no special group would be given any unfair privilege. ##
