The government has decided to significantly shorten the international tendering process for importing refined fuel oil, aiming to ensure faster and more efficient energy supply across the country.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held at the Secretariat on Tuesday, chaired by Finance Adviser Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, where the proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division received policy-level approval.
Under the new directive, the time allocated for preparing and submitting international open tenders by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation will be reduced from 42 days to just 10 days.
Officials said the lengthy tender process had often created complications in securing fuel quickly, particularly amid volatility in global energy markets and fluctuating demand.
The shortened timeframe is expected to enhance responsiveness, improve supply chain efficiency, and help meet urgent fuel needs more effectively.
Alongside the tender reform, the committee also approved several emergency fuel procurement proposals. These include the purchase of 100,000 metric tonnes of EN590 10 ppm sulfur diesel from Archer Energy LLC through a direct procurement method.
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase later approved the deal at a cost of Tk 6.746 billion.
Another proposal allows for the import of an additional 100,000 metric tonnes of the same grade of diesel from Majeda Oil Co. Limited under similar emergency provisions.
Although a proposal to import diesel and gasoline from DBS Trading House FZCO was not initially tabled at the economic affairs meeting, it was subsequently approved at a separate Government Purchase Committee meeting.
The approved import includes 50,000 metric tonnes of diesel and 25,000 metric tonnes of gasoline (octane), at a total cost of Tk 10.236 billion, according to the Finance Ministry.
In addition to energy-related decisions, the committee approved a public-private partnership (PPP) project to develop international-standard tourism facilities at Hotel Shaibal in Cox’s Bazar under the supervision of the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation.
Meanwhile, the committee also gave the green light to cancel a PPP agreement between the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and a consortium led by BNG Global Holding SDN BHD for the construction of high-rise residential buildings for middle-income groups at the Jhilmil Residential Project.