Dhaka: The government has approved separate proposals for procuring approximately 1.80 crore liters of rice bran oil as part of its strategy to meet the increasing demand for edible oil and maintain stability in the domestic supply chain. The decision was made during the 8th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase for 2026, marking the first session under the new government, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury via a virtual platform.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the committee evaluated several procurement proposals, including those for refined rice bran oil. Three proposals were submitted by the Ministry of Commerce, with additional proposals from the Local Government Division, Power Division, and Energy and Mineral Resources Division. The Ministry of Commerce presented two proposals for acquiring refined rice bran oil through the Open Tender Method (National).
Under the first proposal, the government will procure 80 lakh litres of refined rice bran oil in four packages, totaling Tk 135.15 crore. The suppliers recommended include Majumder Bran Oil Mills Ltd., Green Oil and Poultry Feed Industry, Tamim Agro Industries Ltd., and Prodhan Oil Mills Ltd. The prices quoted ranged between Tk 167.50 and Tk 169.75 per litre, inclusive of advance income tax and transportation costs.
The second proposal involves the procurement of one crore litres of refined rice bran oil in five packages, with an estimated cost of Tk 170.41 crore. The recommended bidders are Majumder Bran Oil Mills Ltd., Majumder Products Ltd., Tamim Agro Industries Ltd., and Green Oil and Poultry Feed Industry, with quoted prices ranging from Tk 170.25 to Tk 170.75 per litre. The committee has recommended the approval of both proposals.
Officials emphasize that the procurement is intended to ensure a sufficient supply of edible oil in the domestic market and support government distribution programs. The committee also reviewed and recommended a variation proposal for the construction of a 1,490-metre PC girder bridge over the Teesta River, connecting Panchpir Bazar of Sundarganj upazila in Gaibandha with Chilmar upazila headquarters. The project, implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), now has a revised contract value of Tk 443.68 crore, reflecting a 20.57 percent increase from the original contract.
Additionally, the committee approved a proposal to purchase electricity from the gas-based 2×120 MW Siddhirganj power plant, built by the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh Limited (EGCB). The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will acquire electricity from the plant at a revised levelized tariff of Tk 3.3664 per kilowatt-hour, with an estimated procurement cost of Tk 23880.02 crore.