The government on Wednesday approved five construction contracts worth more than Tk 1,057 crore under the World Bank-assisted Resilient Infrastructure for Adaptation and Vulnerability Reduction (RIVER) (1st Revised) project for the construction of government primary schools-cum-flood shelters in several districts.

The approvals were made at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) following proposals submitted by the Local Government Division.

Under the project, to be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) with financing from the World Bank and the Government of Bangladesh, a total of 121 government primary schools-cum-flood shelters will be constructed in Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Rajbari and Faridpur districts.

The committee recommended awarding a contract worth Tk 177.05 crore for the construction of 21 government primary schools-cum-flood shelters in Bogura district .

The contract is proposed to be awarded to Wahid-Ahad JV.

Another proposal involving Tk 191.91 crore was recommended for the construction of 22 such facilities in Sirajganj district .The recommended contractor is YCL-WEL JV.

For Pabna district, the committee approved contract worth Tk 179.97 crore for constructing 22 government primary schools-cum-flood shelters. The proposed contractor is SCL-MCPL (JV).

In Rajbari district, a contract valued at Tk 187.88 crore was approved for the construction of 21 government primary schools-cum-flood shelters.

The Engineers and Architects Limited was selected as the recommended bidder.

The largest package, valued at Tk 319.96 crore, relates to the construction of 35 government primary schools-cum-flood shelters in Faridpur . Wahid Construction Ltd was recommended for the contract.

The RIVER project aims to strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure and enhance disaster preparedness in flood-prone areas through the development of multipurpose facilities that serve as both educational institutions and emergency flood shelters.