DSC Dredge LLC, a U.S. dredge manufacturer, welcomed Mr. Md. Fakhruddin (Executive Director) and Mr. Mohammed Ismail (Senior General Manager) representing Bashundhara Dredging Company Limited, as they visited the manufacturing facility this week to inspect the progress of their newly purchased dredging equipment.
Bashundhara Dredging Company Limited, a subsidiary of worldfamous Bashundhara Group, purchased two 24” x 24” Dual Pump Marlin Class dredges and a 40’ multipurpose workboat from DSC earlier this year. The contract signing ceremony was witnessed by U.S. Embassy officials in Dhaka. Bangladesh contains over 300 rivers; many of which are heavily silted and have not been dredged in nearly thirty years. The government plans to dredge the rivers in an effort to reduce potential flooding that inevitably follows regularly occurring natural disasters and to make the rivers more navigable.
As the largest industrial conglomerate in Bangladesh, Bashundhara decided to invest in the dredging project under a new emerging paradigm known as public-private partnership. Bashundhara stepped up as a private sector supporter when the government searched for assistance, adding dredging to their many specialties. The dredges will create new employment opportunities in Bangladesh and have also created jobs at DSC’s headquarters in Reserve, LA and a separate manufacturing location in Poplarville, MS. “For the people for the country”, explains Md. Fakhruddin, “is our company motto and it is up to us to join the government’s endeavors in solving our own environmental problems.”
With the decision to enter into the dredging industry, Md. Fakhruddin states “we want to save our hard earning foreign currency. In the past, foreign contractors were the only ones to do these projects; now it can be done by the largest industrial corporation in Bangladesh.” Upon partnering with their government, Bashundhara Dredging Company extended a worldwide invitation to all renowned dredge manufacturers interested in supplying the new equipment. After evaluating all offers, Bashundhara chose DSC because of their reputation for manufacturing innovative, quality dredging equipment. When asked why DSC was chosen as the preferred supplier, Md. Fakhruddin responded “Bashundhara only buys the finest. We want the most modern equipment in the world and we found DSC to have the best design at a competitive price compared to other U.S. and European manufacturers.”
Other contributing factors that led them to their selection include DSC’s fully automated equipment that uses PLC-touch screens to operate the dredge, deeper digging depths, furthest pumping distance without a booster, and increased production capabilities. With a digging depth of 23 meters and production capabilities exceeding 1500 cubic meters per hour, the dredge is said to be the most modern in design in the entire country of Bangladesh! Both Mr. Fakhruddin and Mr. Ismail of Bashundhara witnessed the trial testing of the first dredge and the workboat, which are scheduled to ship on December 18, 2010. “We were highly impressed with the staff at DSC. From the engineers that are designing our equipment down to the craftsmen that are building it, everybody we met was remarkable. The trial test went well and we are quite pleased with the product DSC has designed”, explains Mr. Ismail. “We are very excited to be in the U.S. building relationships here for future endeavors.”
As DSC finishes the final touches on the first dredge and workboat, they are preparing the second 24” Dual Pump Marlin Class dredge for delivery in February 2011. “This is the beginning of a long-term relationship and DSC looks forward to future business with Bashundhara” said DSC President Bob Wetta. “The market potential for new productive dredges in Bangladesh is huge. We are honored to be associated with such a prestigious group as Bashundhara”, adds Charlie Sinunu, Director International Sales.
Over the years, it has developed into tradition; when you buy DSC, you become part of the DSC family. “Bashundhara wants to maintain very good business relations with U.S. organizations, who have excellent technical know how and good international reputation, by creating more trade and investment in various sector jointly”, explains Mr. Fakhruddin. The Bashundhara Group started off as a real estate company in 1987 and has since evolved to include many other industries, including the production of cement, paper and pulp, tissue paper, steel, LP Gas bottling and distribution, and even a non-profit foundation that offers support to the less fortunate of Bangladesh.
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Source: dscdredge, November 23, 2010