Dhaka: The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) has given the green light to several import proposals, paving the way for Bangladesh to bring in a significant amount of essential commodities. The meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat and chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, resulted in approvals for the import of 100,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice from Vietnam, 25,000 tonnes of sugar, 2 crore litres of refined soybean oil, and 10,000 tonnes of lentils.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the rice import will be conducted under a government-to-government arrangement with Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (VINAFOOD II). The rice, priced at $416 per tonne, will cost the government Tk 515.05 crore. Additionally, the CCGP approved a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce to import 25,000 tonnes of sugar through international open tendering, selecting PT Trinity Cahya Energy of Indonesia as the supplier. The sugar will be purchased at $514 per tonne, totaling Tk 157.86 crore.
The committee also sanctioned a proposal for the procurement of 2 crore litres of refined soybean oil, again through international open tendering. PT Trinity Cahya Energy is set to provide the oil at a rate of $1.15 per litre, culminating in a total expenditure of Tk 282.56 crore. Furthermore, the approval extends to the acquisition of 10,000 tonnes of lentils in 50-kg bags through national open tendering. Nabil Naba Foods Ltd of Rajshahi has been selected to supply the lentils at a price of Tk 78.96 per kg, amounting to Tk 78.96 crore.
These strategic procurement decisions are part of the government’s broader efforts to ensure stable supplies and maintain adequate stocks of essential food items in the domestic market.