The government has approved the import of 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar and Dubai under international tender and government-to-government (G2G) arrangements, at a total cost of Tk 446.23 crore.
The approval came at a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held on Wednesday, chaired virtually by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
According to meeting sources, the Ministry of Food will import 50,000 tonnes of non-Basmati parboiled rice from Dubai through an international open tender and another 50,000 tonnes of Atap rice from Myanmar on a G2G basis to bolster the country’s food stock.
Import from Dubai
Under the open tender process for FY2025–26, eight bids were submitted for the supply of 50,000 tonnes of non-Basmati parboiled rice under Package-02. All were found technically and financially responsive.
Following evaluation, the committee approved the purchase from the lowest bidder — Dubai-based firm CredentOne FZCO — at a rate of $355.99 per tonne, amounting to $17.8 million (Tk 216.90 crore). The per-kilogram cost stands at Tk 43.38.
Import from Myanmar
In a separate decision, the committee approved the import of another 50,000 tonnes of Atap rice from Myanmar through a G2G arrangement at Tk 45.87 per kilogram.
Earlier, on September 30, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the import of 200,000 tonnes of rice under G2G agreements for FY2025–26 to meet national needs and maintain stability in the government’s food distribution system.
Following that approval, the Ministry of Food — through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — initiated the proposal to import 50,000 tonnes of Atap rice from Myanmar. The Myanmar government has since confirmed its readiness to supply the rice.
Officials said the imports are aimed at maintaining adequate public food stocks and ensuring a smooth distribution system amid global price volatility and domestic demand pressures.