The government has cleared proposals for importing rice, fertiliser and diesel and procuring sugar and lentil from local suppliers to meet domestic demands for food, energy and agro input.
The approvals came at the meeting of the Advisors’ Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) held on Tuesday, with Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair,
With the procurements, the government aims to ensure steady supply of essential commodities like rice, sugar, lentil, fertiliser and fuels, the finance adviser told a press conference after the meeting.
“We’ll try to ensure a smooth flow of supply in the market during Ramadan. Even until the end of the coming Ramadan. Not only the supply, there needs to be strict monitoring as well,” he said.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, will import 130,000 MT of diesel from India.
Indian Numaligarh Refinery Limited will supply the bulk diesel at Tk1137.96 crore.
Bangladesh has been importing diesel from India under a 15-year agreement since 2016. Initially transported via rail wagons from NRL, the supply has been streamlined through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline since March 18, 2023, significantly improving efficiency in cross-border fuel transportation.
As per the proposals approved by the ACCGP, the Food Directorate, under the Ministry of Food, will import 100,000 metric tonnes (MT) of non-boiled rice from Vietnam on a G2G basis.
Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (VINAFOOD II) will supply the bulk rice at Tk578.58 crore, with per metric tonne at $474.25.
Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), under the Ministry of Agriculture, will import 30,000 metric tonnes of TSP fertiliser from OCP Nutricrops of Morocco under a state-level agreement at Tk161.04 crore, with per metric tonne at $440.
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), under the Commerce Ministry, will procure 10,000 metric tonnes of sugar through a local open tender.
City Sugar Industries Ltd will supply the bulk sugar at Tk115.42 crore with per kg at Tk115.42.
TCB will also procure 10,000 metric tonnes of lentil through local open tender.
Sheikh Agro Food Industries will supply the bulk lentil at Tk98.45 crore with per kg at Tk98.45.
