'Irregularities' by Rangpur WDB

The projects include construction of embankments along the Teesta river in Nilphamari and Rangpur and the Dharla in Lalmonirhat district.

Seven contractors are being given the work orders in an irregular way due to political pressure, some of the aggrieved contractors alleged while talking to this correspondent yesterday.

They said they also urged the higher authorities for fresh bidding to ensure transparency, but to no effect.

A few days ago, a number of contractors aligned with the ruling party forced into the office of the Executive Engineer (EE). They confined him at his room for about three hours and allegedly forced him to give them the work orders.

A case was recorded with Rangpur Kotwali police station in this connection and police arrested Asad, a leader of the youth front of the ruling BNP.

Informed by sources that the tender committee had taken a decision to issue work orders to seven contractors in an irregular way, some other contractors belonging to the same party requested the EE and Chief Engineer (CE) of BWDB not to take such decision.

"We requested the EE and the CE not be controversial by issuing work orders to seven contractors in an irregular way. We suggested them invite fresh bidding," one of the contractor said seeking anonymity.

The Chief Engineer is not attending office since the incident.

WDB Executive Engineer Moazzem Hossen was withdrawn from Rangpur four days after the incident.

When contacted, the new EE, Tofazzal Ali, said that the tender committee did not find any irregularity with the bids. "So the question of canceling the bid does not arise", he added.

The WDB had floated the tender for the Tk four crore work in October.