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Engineers want Bashundhara to expand bitumen testing

  • Staff Correspondent
  • 7 January, 2023 12:00 AM
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Engineers want Bashundhara to expand bitumen testing
On behalf of Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Bashundhara Bitumen General Manager and Head of Plant Nafis Imtiaz receives a crest from Roads and Highways Engineers’ Association President Syed Moinul Hasan at the 32nd annual conference of the association at Sarak Bhaban in the capital on Friday. —SUN PHOTO

Engineers at Roads and Highways Department (RHD) have sought expansion of Bashundhara testing facilities across the country for ensuring quality of bitumen products in development works. 

“We rely on Buet to test everything. There are many engineers who work in remote areas. I also worked in Moheshkhali once. It was difficult to go Dhaka all the time. If Bashundhara’s modern lab can be spread throughout the country, the problem will be solved. We hope they will come forward in this regard,” said Syed Moinul Hasan, president of Roads and Highways Engineers’ Association (RHEA).

He made the remark while speaking at the 32nd annual conference of the organisation at Sarak Bhaban in the capital on Friday.         

The additional chief engineer of Roads and Highways Department also requested Bashundhara Bitumen to try to attain global certification so that engineers can use it in foreign projects.                

In response to the request, Bashundhara Bitumen General Manager and Head of Plant Nafis Imtiaz told the meeting that 70 tests are being conducted in the testing labs run by Bashundhara Group.

“Bashundhara labs are world class. We have already made a plan to set up a mobile lab. There are also plans to have labs in each department,” he said.

Nafis Imtiaz gave an audio-visual presentation on Bashundhara Bitumen at the conference, sharing feature and benefits of the quality construction products.

“Bashundhara Bitumen is making a significant contribution to the road infrastructure of the country. We are working with you. Bashundhara bitumen is being used in the country’s biggest projects, including Bangabandhu Tunnel. We have received good feedback from you. In this case, Bashundhara Group wants to work with utmost sincerity. Bashundhara Group always works for the development of the country and its people,” he said.

RHD Chief Engineer Md Ishaque , RHEA Vice-Presidents Abul Kalam Azad and Aman Ullah, General Secretary Amit Kumar Chakraborty, among others, were present at the conference.

Bashundhara Bitumen Assistant General Manager Saiful Islam Rubel, Executive Engineer Shahriar Bin Kabir, Brand Manager Faraz Hossain Rumman, Assistant Engineer Mashrur Ashker Hredoy and Hayat-Al-Gaus and Abuzar Laskar of sales and marketing team were also present on the occasion.

As platinum sponsor, Bashundhara Bitumen supported the conference of engineers this year that focuses on smart highways for leading the country into the fourth industrial revolution.

Bashundhara Group produces 60-70 penetration grade bitumen, which is effective in constructing national highways, internal roads, and bridges and sustainable in all kinds of weather conditions.

The industrial conglomerate launched the country’s first bitumen plant in February 2020 in order to meet the growing demand for bitumen on the local market.

The plant has the capacity to produce bitumen grades such as Cutback, Emulsified, Oxidised and Polymer (SBS, Rubber Powder) and the product is customised as per clients’ requirements.