Stone worth Tk 100 million for the rail link project of Padma multipurpose bridge is floating on the river over the past several weeks as stone cargoes are not allowed to unload stone at Zajira point, it has been alleged.
Demurrage worth Tk 20 million has already been ticked by the vessel owners as some 21 of their cargoes with ballast stone have been floating on the river Padma since June 2.
"We imported ballast stone from Dubai with a mother vessel under the work order for supplying stone for Padma Bridge Rail Link Project ," managing director of Bhai Bhai Traders Md Aminul Islam told the FE.
He alleged that his company could not unload the stone at the most suitable unloading point at Zajira near the jetty of the China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Company Ltd, or MBEC, due to 'non-cooperation' from authorities concerned.
The importer also lodged a complaint with the local police station, Zajira of Shariatpur in this connection.
The importer, Bhai Bhai Traders, intends to unload the stones using their own barge platoon and excavator within the shortest possible time with limited manpower.
"Despite expensive, we want to use latest technology for unloading stones to check the spread of coronavirus," said Mr Islam.
Zajira point near the MBEC jetty has been selected for unloading stone as the spot has proper navigability to anchor the stone-carrying cargoes, he said.
The MBEC has built the spot with proper navigability after carrying out necessary dredging work, Mr Islam added.
Since the very beginning of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, the firm has been supplying the ballast stone to the MBEC and China Railway Group Ltd, or CREC, for the rail link project, he added.
The importer has already sought support from the secretary of Bridge Division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, project director of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, and secretary of Railway Division under the Ministry of Railway to overcome the impasse and facilitate unloading of stone to Zajira near the MBEC jetty to avoid further demurrage charges due to overstay of the stone cargoes.
The delaying of unloading stone is lingering the project work of the Padma multipurpose bridge, he added.
When contacted Bridge Secretary Mohammed Belayet Hossain said the problem could be resolved through the mutual cooperation between the Chinese firms MBEC and the CREC.
The CREC is the parent company of the MBEC and the importer got work order from the CREC.
Chinese MBEC has the jurisdiction over the Zajira point near its jetty, said Mr Hossain.
Azizjst@yahoo.com