The interim government has approved the purchase of two bulk carrier ships from the United States at a cost of $76.69 million, to be paid entirely from the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s own funds.
The approval came during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Tuesday, chaired by Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali.
According to Additional Cabinet Secretary Sayeed Mahbub Khan, the deal will be signed with US-based company Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures. Each vessel will cost $38.345 million.
The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation has undertaken the purchase as part of its fleet expansion plan aimed at strengthening the country’s maritime transport capacity.
The carriers will be used primarily for transporting bulk cargo, which is expected to reduce the dependency on foreign vessels and save foreign currency.
Officials said the procurement process was conducted in accordance with government purchase rules, and the funding will not require any budgetary allocation or foreign loans, as the corporation will bear the entire cost.
The Cabinet Committee also approved several other proposals during the meeting, including supply contracts for different ministries and agencies, but the bulk carrier purchase was the largest single investment cleared.
Government sources noted that the new vessels will enhance Bangladesh’s ability to participate in international shipping routes, improve efficiency in transporting commodities such as coal, grain, and fertilizer, and contribute to long-term economic benefits for the maritime sector.
