Follow-up
Contractors demand fresh tender for Teesta toll
Police, AL leader sue 270 BNP men in Lalmonirhat
A section of contractors have demanded cancellation of the tender for toll collection at Teesta Bridge in Lalmonirhat, as many of them could not drop tender documents at the office of the superintendent of police (SP) due to a clash between Awami League and BNP men on Tuesday.
"I and many others could not drop tender document for Teesta Bridge toll collection due to the clash," said Sayeedul Islam, a contractor in Lalmonirhat town.
"I purchased a tender paper but failed to drop it as Awami League men obstructed. Only 11 documents were dropped whereas contractors earlier purchased 125 tender papers. The contractors backed by the ruling party men dropped those 11 documents through an internal understanding,” said Limon Islam, president of the Lalmonirhat district unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatar Dal, also a contractor.
Sources of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Lalmonirhat admitted receiving only 11 documents against 125 tender papers that had been sold to contractors willing to take part in the bid for toll collection at Teesta Bridge.
Contacted, Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat RHD Suruz Miah said, "We are processing finalisation of the tender as the office is not responsible for the clash. If any contractor places written allegation, I will investigate the matter and send to the higher authorities concerned for instruction."
Meanwhile, 270 leaders and activists of main opposition BNP and its front organisations were made accused in two cases, one filed by police and the other by an AL leader, with Lalmonirhat Sadar police station on Tuesday night, following the clash over tender dropping at the SP office.
“BNP men attacked policemen when they tried to control the situation during a clash between AL and BNP men over tender document dropping. BNP men also damaged the signboard of the SP office. Three policemen were hurt in the attack by BNP men,” Jamir Uddin, OC of Sadar police station, said in his case filed against 20 identified and at least 150 unidentified BNP men.
Rafiqul Islam Ripon, former president of district BCL, filed another case against 20 identified and 80 unidentified BNP men.
"BNP men attacked Awami League men in the name of tender dropping near Lalmonirhat SP office on Tuesday noon. I and five other Awami League men were hurt in the attack," he said.
On the other hand, Hafizur Rahman Babla, general secretary of Lalmonirhat district BNP, said, "Some BNP men went to the SP office for dropping tender documents but they failed due to obstruction by organised AL men. AL men also attacked BNP men and hurt several leaders and activists including district JCD president Limon Islam in presence of police. AL men also set fire to district Sramik Dal office on Station Road in the town."
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