Clash over tender in Patuakhali
Chase and counter chase between two rival groups of ruling Awami League yesterday disrupted the tender submitting at Local Government Engineering Department office in the town.
Most contractors could not submit their tenders because of a tense situation there.
Additional police were deployed at different points of the town while Rab teams patrolling the spot to thwart any possible violence.
Sources said, LGED called a tender package on November 3 to construct 10 cyclone shelters at a cost of Tk 25 crore in the district under a project funded by the World Bank (WB).
Yesterday was the last day for submitting the tenders. Nineteen contractors bought tender documents from the office concerned but only five could submit their tenders in time.
At about 12 noon yesterday, when some contractors went to LGED office to submit their tenders, a gang led by a few local AL leaders chased them. Later, they were counter chased by their opponents triggering tension in the area, witnesses said.
Tofazzel Hossain, secretary of district Shramik League, said he went to LGED office at about 12 noon to submit tender. Within minutes, a group led by Reaz Mridha, president of Patuakhali bus owners association stopped them at the gate of LGED office.
"When we tried to get inside the LGED office, some cadres of ruling AL men chased us out, Tofazzel said.
Many contractors couldn't submit their tender at the office, he added.
However, Reaz Mridha, refuting the charges, said Tofazzel came to LGED office with some cadres and started to raise voice on LGED premises. We just asked them not to do so, he said.
Contacted, Md Monirul Islam, OC of Patuakhali police station said, chase and counter chase took place between two groups over tender submission at LGED office. On hearing the matter, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, he added.
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