Dhaka has differed with the rates quoted by Moscow to sell 24 advanced jet trainer fighters and six choppers under a $1 billion suppliers’ credit from Russia.
A number of ministry officials said Dhaka have calculated that each Yak-130, the advanced trainer fighter, should cost $15 million while Moscow quoted the price at $23.6 million each.
They pointed out that the difference was big as Dhaka’s assessment for 24 trainer fighters required $360 million against the demand of $566 million by Moscow.
Dhaka has also assessed the price of five Mi-171s and one Mi-17-1 helicopters at $79.2 million.
Moscow is yet to quote the price of the choppers, they said.
Early this year, Bangladesh signed a deal with Russia to avail $1 billion loan at 4.5 per cent interest rate against which the country would buy Russian made military hardware.
Lieutenant General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, Air Vice Marshal Abu Esrar and Major General Abdul Matin at a press conference on January 23, 2013, told reporters that purchase of fighter aircraft and choppers were major components of the arms deal.
Meanwhile, Dhaka has formed two separate committees to deal with the purchase of the aircraft and choppers. One air vice marshal will head both the committees in which representatives from different ministries and divisions have already been included.
The committees have been asked to review the draft contract sent by Moscow. They have also been asked to settle the purchase price and finalise the terms of payment as per the Arms Forces Division’s purchase guidelines-2010.
It is expected that Russian officials will visit Dhaka to negotiate on the prices soon.
The present purchase deal is the biggest ever arms contract between the two countries.
Bangladesh had procured eight MiG-29 fighter jets from Russia at $124 million during 1996-2001 tenure of the Awami League government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was indicted by a court for alleged corruption in purchase of the MiG-29. Later, the case was quashed.
Armed forces division officials said they tried to maintain transparency about the present arms deal as a committee comprising representatives of different ministries and divisions was involved in negotiations with the Russian side over the last two years
They said the loan repayment period in 20 installments has been fixed at 10 years staring from April 15, 2018. It will be cleared from the annual budgetary assistances of the armed forces division.
News Link: Dhaka differs on prices
