Dhaka: The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) has recommended the approval of significant proposals for the importation of approximately 1.80 lakh metric tons of fertilizer under state-level agreements, along with the expansion of a vital national highway. The meeting, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, thoroughly examined proposals from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Road Transport and Highways Division.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the committee has endorsed five distinct proposals for importing DAP and TSP fertilizers to address the increasing demand through the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Banyan International Trading Limited from China is set to supply 40,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer at a cost of Tk 378.83 crore, with each ton priced at $772.50. Additionally, OCP Nutricrops from Morocco will provide 30,000 metric tons of TSP fertilizer at Tk 215.28 crore ($585.33 per ton) for both the 6th and 7th lots. They will also supply 40,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer for the 5th and 6th lots at Tk 372.86 crore and Tk 372.25 crore, respectively, each priced at $760.33 per ton.
These imports are part of ongoing state-level agreements with China and Morocco to ensure a consistent supply of fertilizer for farmers, as stated by officials. The purchase committee also evaluated a proposal from the Road Transport and Highways Division concerning the “Upgradation of Ashuganj River Port-Sarail-Dharkhar-Akhaura Land Port Highway to a 4-lane National Highway (1st revised)” project. The committee has recommended the approval of Variation Order-1 for the segment from Ashuganj Circle to Sarail Circle, spanning 11.56 km.
The original contract price was Tk 553.43 crore, and the variation order has added Tk 163.83 crore, bringing the revised total contract value to Tk 717.27 crore. The work will be executed by Afcons Infrastructure Limited from Mumbai, India, the same contractor involved in the original agreement. Officials highlighted that the additional cost accounts for changes in the design and scope of work to enhance durability and quality according to revised project requirements.
Furthermore, the Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs also convened today, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. The meeting recommended the approval of a proposal for procuring rice on a G2G basis under Section 68 (1) of the Public Procurement Act, 2006, and Section 76 (2) of the PPR, 2008.