Labanu International Limited in a rejoinder, against a report headlined 'Costly deal to buy navy patrol boats' published in The Daily Star on June 19, claimed that the allegations against the naval boat purchase are not based on facts.

It states that the naval boats purchased last year are different from the boats being procured now. "The boats purchased last year were 10 metres long with usage in river only," said the rejoinder sent by Barrister Khairul Alam Chowdhury on behalf of Labanu, "the boats of my client are 12 metres long, equipped to meet the navy's requirement of the year round, open sea, search and rescue with air conditioned cabins. This requires a stronger and more expensive material for construction of the

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hull and allied components. Total payload last year was 1200kg and the ones of my client is 4500kg, the boats of my client are of military standard; the last one was not."

The rejoinder added that the news report is incorrect in saying that the boats were not in production. "The tender specifications require that my client furnishes documents proving this, and my client had duly done that to the satisfaction of the navy and the DGDP," it said adding that neither the DGDP, nor the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) objected to this purchase -- rather they'inquired' about the purchase.

The rejoinder rejected the allegation that the navy picked up Labanu's offer under the influence of a relative of the prime minister.

It also rejected the allegation that Labanu does not technically qualify for the bid, saying that the company was duly enlisted after scrutiny by various defence agencies.

The rejoinder rejected the allegation that Labanu's bid did not include the standard accessories list with item wise prices, saying that it included 'all necessary documents' as per the tender rules.

OUR REPLY

The Bangladesh Navy is the appropriate authority to say whether tender rules were upheld in this bid and whether our report is wrong. Labanu cannot speak on behalf of the Bangladesh Navy.

However, The Daily Star will still respond to the rejoinder for the benefit of its readers.

According to the official document, the last year's boats were built in accordance to the highest standards

for military use and the boat is suitable for special forces operations, and search and rescue duties on open sea at all times of the year.

Each of the last year's high-speed patrol boats had 10.37 metres outside length and 9.74 metres inside length. Under the present tender, the navy has selected the boats each having 12 metres outer length with only 9.27 metres ofinsidelength.

The last year's boat had the speed capacity of 45 knots while the boat in question has the capacity of 25 knots. The last year's boat weighed 3600kg, while the new one weighs 4500kg. The weight of the boat is relative to speed and it is up to the navy to decide which type of boat it requires for its operations.

The rejoinder did not say whether the boats are actually in production. Labanu wrote to the navy that these boats are custom-built. In other words this model is not in operation. The navy sought for a model that is in operation and has a proven track record.

Inquiries by the DGDP and CAG about the purchase are equivalent to objections. Whether the navy picked up Labanu's offer under the influence of a relative of the prime minister or not is an issue that should be clarified by the Bangladesh Navy.

The DGDP sought 25 clarifications from Labanu -- and around five or six clarifications from other bidders.

Our accompanying story today on page-1 proves that our June 19 report was authentic.