Proposal to upgrade Osmani Int’l Airport approved

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved the purchase proposal titled, "Expansion of Osmani International Airport, Sylhet (1st Phase)" on Wednesday.

The project will cost Tk2,116.51 crore.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed reporters after the purchase committee meeting at the Secretariat with Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal in the chair.

The cabinet secretary also said that the committee has approved two more purchase proposals totalling Tk256.65 crore.

"Six companies submitted tenders to construct buildings and develop other establishments under the 'Expansion of Osmani International Airport, Sylhet (1st Phase)' project. Among them, the proposal of the Beijing Urban Construction Group Co.,Ltd was selected as they are technically sound and the lowest bidder," said Anwarul.

When asked if the coronavirus situation will hamper the expansion process, the cabinet secretary replied, "It may take up to six months to start the expansion following different procedures. The outbreak of coronavirus will be controlled by this time. So, there are no possibilities of delay."

The two other approved purchase proposals include purchasing 50,000 tonnes of wheat from Agrocrop International of Singapore at the cost of Tk112.72 crore, and constructing buildings – to increase the bed capacity of Sarkari Karmachari Hospital in Dhaka from 150 to 500 – at a cost of Tk143.93 crore.