DHAKA: The government today approved separate proposals to procure two cargos of LNG, 50,000 metric tons of wheat, 50,000 metric tons of non-Basmati boiled rice, and 30,000 tons of fertilizer. These procurements aim to meet the increasing demand within the country. The decision was made at the 11th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) held at the Cabinet Division conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Adviser on the Ministries of Finance and Commerce Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Ministry of Food's proposal to procure 50,000 metric tons of wheat from M/S Agrocorp International Pte Ltd, Singapore, under the Open Tender Method, was approved at a cost of approximately Taka 180.82 crore, with each metric ton priced at $301.38. In addition, the government will acquire 50,000 metric tons of non-Basmati boiled rice from M/S Pattabhi Agro Foods Private Limited, India, at an estimated cost of Taka 286.20 crore, where the price per metric ton is set at $477. The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will procure 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer from Muntajat, Qatar, as part of the 4th lot for fiscal year 2025. This procurement, following a proposal from the Ministry of Industries, is valued at around Taka 140.28 crore, with each ton of fertilizer costing $389.67. In the energy sector, the government approved the procurement of one cargo of LNG from the spot market from M/S Total Energies Gas and Power Limited, Switzerland, at a cost of roughly Taka 618.89 crore, with each MMBtu priced at $13.12. Another cargo of LNG will be procured from M/S Gunvor Singapore Pte. Ltd. Singapore, at an estimated cost of Taka 635.44 crore, where the cost per MMBtu is $13.47. Additionally, the Meeting approved the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh's (TCB) proposal to procure 5,000 metric tons of sugar from City Sugar Industries Limited under local Open Tender Method at about Taka 60.45 crore, with each kilogram priced at T aka 120.90. The ACCGP also sanctioned a procurement proposal from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) under the Ministry of Shipping. This involves upgrading or constructing landing stations (Launch Ghats) and necessary infrastructure at multiple locations, with a budget of Taka 150.98 crore for the first set of works and Taka 112.27 crore for the second set. The projects will be executed under the Bangladesh Regional Inland Waterway Transport Project-1.
