Shipping ministry’s EGIMNS project forcibly occupied by sub-contractor
Staff Reporter :
The employees and workers of Samhee Construction Limited, a Korean construction farm appointed for the implementing the works of ‘EGIMNS (Establishment of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System and Integrated Maritime Navigation System) Project’ under the Shipping Ministry, are not being allowed to enter the project sites including its Dhaka C&C Center site in Agargaon.
The people of Bagdad Construction, which was appointed as sub-contractor by the Director General of the Department of Shipping (DoS) on Thursday forcibly blocked 5th floor to 11th floor at the EGIMNS Project’s Dhaka C&C Center site and its furnishing works, according to a letter sent to the Shipping Ministry through e-mail by Samhee Construction’s Country Manager Casper Kim on Thursday.
According to the allegation, the DG’s contractor Bagdad Construction forcefully blocked the stairs of 5th floor to 11th floor at the Dhaka C&C Center on Thursday and forcefully stopped all other work activities in the floors.
He claimed that such a situation is very uncomfortable and unsafe for them and their employees working for the site.
“They also declared that nobody can enter for any other works in all other sites in Cox’s Bazar, Saint Martins’ and Nijhum Dwip. The Bagdad Construction seized all jobs from above all said sites. In this situation how do we proceed with our full manpower to continue the project work with full swing intending to complete your good project in stipulated time,” he said.
In the letter, the Korean contractor also humbly requested the state minister for shipping and its secretary to take prompt decision about the matter.
Meanwhile in another letter, the BANASOM, a sub-contractor of Hatil Complex Ltd, working for the furnishing works of the C&C center, claimed that their people are also not allowed to enter the site and continue their works.
In the letter, Dr. Tarek Mahmud Hussain, Executive Director of BANASOM, claimed that they have been doing furnishing works at C&C center, Dhaka.
“Last few days we are facing lot of problems from the staff of Bagdad Construction, especially Engr. Kamrul. Kamrul blocked our staffs to enter the fifth floor. That is why our labor waited long time without working. Our technical team leader architect Jannatul Ferdausi had to face hard conversation with Kamrul,” he said, adding, “Mr. Jony threatened her over phone for not to work fifth and above floors. In this situation, it is very difficult to continue our works.”
In the letter, he urged the ministry to take necessary action so that they can continue their works without any problems by others.
The Shipping Ministry recently formed probe committee led by Additional Secretary Sanjoy Kumar Banik to investigate the reasons for inner conflict, identify irregularities, corruption in the EGIMNS Project and also on allegations of misusing power and awarding work orders to associates and relatives raised against the Director General of Department of Shipping (DoS). The committee submitted its probe report to the ministry’s Secretary Mostafa Kamal on May 9.
The two-year EGIMNS Project was taken in 2014 to install lighthouses and radio stations at Dublarchar under Bagerhat, Dhalchar under Bhola, Nijhumdweep under Noakhali and Kuakata under Patuakhali districts and modernizing three old lighthouses and radio stations in Cox’s Bazar, Saint Martins’ and Kutubdia islands for providing assistance to inland and coastal vessels at a cost of around Tk 370.89 crore. But, the project work started in 2018 after removing all difficulties.
During the period, duration of the project was extended thrice and cost rose to Tk 779.49 crore.
By this time, the high officials of the implementing authority DG Shipping, Project Director and Korean contractor engaged in conflicts raising various allegations against one another.
In this situation, the project director has recently requested the Ministry to remove him from his assignment giving an elaborate huge explanation to the authority about the allegations raised against him. He also raised eight specific allegations against the DG of DG Shipping authority.
According to the allegations of PD Delowar Rahman and Korean contractor LG-Samhee Construction, they were compelled to expense more than Tk6 crore to decorate and renovate the office of the DG of DG Shipping forcefully, buy products from the DG’s men and assign DG’s people in the work unethically.
However, raising allegations of inefficiency against the project director and contractors, DG Shipping Commodore Md Nizamul Haque claimed that the PD and contractors haven’t followed his instructions and the two representatives of Korean company don’t have valid work permits to work in Bangladesh.
