Business Desk :
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has urged the government to discourage foreign companies to take part in national infrastructure projects.
“Most of the projects in the country are being implemented through foreign companies. As Bangladesh becomes a developing country, it needs to increase its reliance on local construction companies,” said Md Jashim Uddin, president of FBCCI.
The FBCCI would take maximum initiative for the progress of local organisations, he said.
Jashim Uddin spoke in a meeting held at the Federation’s office in Dhaka on Saturday when the FBCCI Standing Committee for Construction Sector tried to decide what to do and how to complete the projects amid the rising prices of construction materials.
The prices of every construction material, including rod, stone, brick, sand, Thai glass and aluminum products, have risen over 20 to 25 per cent in the last four to five months, they said.
The recent price hike has made it impossible to complete the construction work as per the pre-agreed price, they said.
In addition, the government’s fiscal policy, including advanced income tax and value-added tax, is often changed after tenders are submitted, according to the committee.
The members of committee suggested that there should be a price verification clause in government tenders.
