'Price quotation should be consistent with market price'

The decision was taken at a high powered meeting at the ministry of food and disaster management yesterday as a section of contractors offer lower price quotation to compete in tender bid.

This year, about 200 small bridges and culverts will be constructed in 92 upazilas under the rural infrastructure development project under food for works programme.

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"The decision was taken as we fear that the lower price quotation will ultimately affect the quality of the work for rural infrastructure," said a high official after the meeting.

"Many contractors have been quoting lower price just to get the job. But we think they would not be able to implement the project properly. So the quoted price in the tender should be consistent with the market price," he said.

The Public Procurement Regulations also support this initiative, he added.

Minister for Food and Disaster Management Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf presided over the meeting attended by Deputy Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, Additional Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarker, Director General of the Directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation Mahfuzur Rahman.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of 14 projects of the ministry under the annual development programme (ADP). The government has allocated Tk 91.19 core for these projects.

The bridges are being constructed as part of a five-year project for the development of rural infrastructure that began in 1999-2000.

The government has allocated Tk 40 crore for the project this year and each Upazila will get Tk 50 lakh under the programme.

The official said all the upazilas concerned will be given instructions to follow the new rules aimed at maintaining the quality of the work.

According to sources, the government will also review the work orders given before the recent price hike of the construction materials, specially iron rods. The prices of rods increased significantly in recent times, they pointed out.