Two helicopters likely for police at Tk 416cr

The government is likely to procure two helicopters from Russia for Bangladesh Police at a cost of Tk. 416 crore.

The two fresh Mi-171A2 helicopters would be procured from JSC Russian Helicopters on G2G basis.

The purchase proposal for the two helicopters from the state-owned JSC Russian Helicopters will be placed at the cabinet committee on Public Procurement today, according to cabinet division sources.

The price was negotiated in several meetings till the month of August last, source confirmed.

The government made the decision to purchase the two helicopters as part of its bid to make the police a modern and effective force for the country.

Police will use the helicopters for the transportation of policemen in remote areas to control the law and order, increase the ability of investigation and rescue activities, extinguishing fire in crucial moments and transportation of VIPs and important
personalities.

International tender was called for buying the helicopters on 27 January 2011. Though the initial expenditure was estimated at TK 60 crore. But the expenditure rose up several times in the last ten years.

According to the condition of the tender, both the two helicopters have to to be handed over within 12 to 18 months.