Bangladesh to sign deal with US firm Kali Pradip Chaudhury Group for 142-storied building

The work to build the much-discussed 142-storied ‘iconic tower’ dreamed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith has seen significant progress.

Capital Dhaka’s developer Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) has already fixed a place and made a plan for the tallest building in South Asia.

US-based construction firm KPC Group is going to get the job to build the tower at Purbachal New Town project.

Bangladeshi-origin Kali Pradip Chaudhury, the founder and chairman of KPC, is now in Dhaka leading a team to sign the deal with the government.

Finance Minister Muhith is also set to witness the signing ceremony at his ministry on Sunday.

The project will be implemented under public-private partnership (PPP), Muhith told bdnews24.com on Saturday.

“A man (Chaudhury) from our Sylhet has founded the world famous construction firm KPC. He has achieved popularity by constructing big buildings in several countries,” the minister said.

He said Chaudhury first approached him with the plan to build the tower.

“We have treated his bona fide offer positively,” he added.

Chaudhuri, a doctor, completed his intermediate education at the MC College in Sylhet. He obtained his MBBS degree in Kolkata and was also educated in Malaysia, England, Canada and the US.

A finance ministry official said the building plan aims to remind people of the 1971 Liberation War.

Onlookers will see the number 71 on the building after it is built, he said.

RAJUK is organising an international auction for the job on June 28, according to RAJUK acting Chairman Abdur Rahman.

He said the purpose of the auction is to avoid legal complexities.

The RAJUK acting chairman said a 60-acre piece of land at Central Business District of Purbachal has been fixed for the building.

The base price of the land is Tk 200 million per acre.

The preliminary estimated cost of the project to construct the tower is around Tk 100 billion or $1.2 billion.

The Bureau of Research, Testing Consultation of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has been tasked with the technical study of the project site.

Lawyer Tanjeeb Ul Alam, who is dealing with the legal issues of the project, said RAJUK usually fixes the prices of residential plots itself.

But commercial plots are awarded to highest bidders.

He said the construction firm will have to include some other structures around the main tower.

RAJUK will oversee the project with the help of the housing and public works ministry.

The height of the building will exceed 2000 feet. RAJUK has sought clearance from Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB) for the building.

RAJUK officials said centres for international conventions and exhibitions will be included in the building.

In his 2016-17 budget speech, Muhith said the centre’s main auditorium will accommodate 5,000 people, while the main stadium of a sports complex will have a seating capacity of 50,000.

“Once implemented, the project will facilitate trade and commerce, create job opportunities and result in an economic vibrancy benefiting all,” he said.

He hoped the construction would end in 2018.