Bangladesh scraps deal to procure two ships from Pakistan

The government has cancelled an agreement struck 33 years ago with Pakistan for procuring two container ships.

The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting held Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who attended virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the media on the decisions taken at the meeting.

‎A $50 million agreement was signed with Pakistan by the government on October 13, 1988, to buy two container ships for Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), the secretary informed.

However, Pakistan never delivered the two ships to Bangladesh even after 33 years, he said.

‎For constructing the two ships, the Pakistan government gave $8.85 million to its Karachi shipyard, but nothing came of it.

Bangladesh has not made any payments for the deals, the secretary confirmed.