Sub-standard repellent bought from dubious company with Pakistani links

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Shahed Shafiq
Published : 02:00, Sep 16, 2019 | Updated : 02:00, Sep 16, 2019

Mosquito repellents being sprayed on the samples. FILE PHOTOPakistani company, Nokon Limited, which supplied mosquito repellent to Dhaka North City Corporation, DNCC, is accused of a variety of irregularities.
Reportedly, the lowest bidders for supplying mosquito repellent were sidelined to give work to Nokon, which was the highest bidder. This happened despite an intelligence report which accused the company of being involved in subversive acts.
DNCC bought 400,000 litres of repellent from them which took four months to deliver; at that time, DNCC residents were deprived of mosquito repellent. Investigation shows that DNCC called tender on 10 July, 2018, to buy 1 lakh 14 thousand 990 litres of repellent and the lowest bidder was Agro Product limited.
The company, Agro, was given two work orders to supply the medicines on 4 August and 10 September respectively. At the second phase the DNCC told Agro that its repellent did not pass the test. On 18 September another tender was called by DNCC to buy 4 lakh litres of repellent and Nokon, Confidence and Agro Product Limited took part.
Nokon stated Tk. 259.67, Confidence, Tk. 229 and Agro Limited Tk. 217. The lowest bidder was Agro but instead of giving them the work, Nokon’s repellent was bought for an excess cost of Tk. 1.71 million.
People say that in an unethically motivated move, the repellent was bought from Nokon.
Director of Agro Products Limited, Md. Mizanur Rahman, says: “A syndicate within the city corporation is behind the purchase of low quality repellent.”
The court gave an order to have my repellent tested by a third party but DNCC did not listen to this. Later, I supplied repellent to DSCC through Navy’s Narayanganj Dock Yard, said Mizanur.
A source in DNCC says that that chemicals in Nokon’s repellent render the mosquitoes unconscious but do not kill them since it does not have Prallethrin – a chemical which is essential for an effective repellent.
GM of Nokon, Md. Khalid Hossain, says: I do not know why the accusations have surfaced; they are baseless.
The fingers are now being pointed towards procurement officer Md. Zakir Hossain though he could not be reached for comment.
DNCC panel mayor, Atiqul Islam, said: “I will look into the matter.”

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