Govt to procure 5 lakh MTs wheat, 3.30 lakh MTs rice, 1.60 lakh MTs fertilizer

The government has  approved separate proposals for procuring some 5 lakh metric tons of wheat, some 3.30 lakh metric tons of rice and some 1.60 lakh metric tons of fertilizer to meet the growing demand of the country.

The approvals came from the 25th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) this year held today virtually with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting virtually, Cabinet Division additional secretary Md Abdul Barik informed that a total of 15 proposals were approved today.

He said following a proposal from the Ministry of Food, the government would procure some 5 lakh metric tons of wheat from Russia on G to G basis with around Taka 2,042.50 crore where the price for per metric ton of wheat would be $430 while that of per KG wheat Taka 40.85.

Barik said in another proposal, the government would procure some 1 lakh metric tons of non-Basmati boiled rice on G to G basis from India. Out of the total volume, some 70,000 metric tons of rice would come through sea port costing Taka 42.13 per KG while another 30,000 metric tons of rice through land port with a cost of Taka 40.70 per KG.

In another proposal, the government would buy some 2 lakh metric tons of non-basmati Thai rice and another 30,000 metric tons of Atap rice from Vietnam on G to G basis.

Besides, he informed that the meeting approved a proposal for appointing China Communications Construction Company Ltd as the service provider for five years with around Taka 983.82 crore for ensuring maintenance and realizing tolls at the Bangabandhu Tunnel in Chattogram.

Besides, in two separate proposals, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) under the Ministry of Industries would procure some 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer under the 6th lot from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia with around Taka 177.98 crore and another 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer under the 7th lot from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia with around Taka 177.98 crore.

Apart from these, the day's CCGP meeting approved three proposals from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, two proposals from the Local Government Division, one proposal each from the Road Transport and Highways Division, Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Shipping.