The Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement has approved a proposal to import another 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice from India at a cost of Tk 176 crore to increase the country's food stocks.
Bagadiya Brothers Private Ltd will supply the grain to the Directorate of Food at $ 416 per tonne (Tk 35.28 each kilogram).
The government has so far taken steps to import a total of 11 lakh tonnes of rice through international tenders and government to government contracts.
The food ministry took steps to buy 4 lakh tonnes of rice through private suppliers and 7 lakh tonnes via state-to-state contract.
The approval came from the 12th meeting of the CCGP of the current year held virtually with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair on Wednesday.
While responding to questions of reporters after chairing the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the government would not face any such problem if the country’s COVID-19 pandemic remained in control.
“If the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) remains in control, in that case, I think there won’t be any such problem,” he added.
The Finance Minister said the arenas of global economy are aligned and related to one another adding, “If our foreign buyers are affected severely, then we might go through some tough times.”
He said despite the impacts, the government could control the domestic market through various fiscal and monetary policy measures. “But, if the impact from the international market lasts long, then there could be some problems,” added Kamal.
Answering a question, he said the government is going on with the COVID-19 vaccination programme and once the Vaccination programme is completed, then the infection rate and the impacts of COVID-19 would come down.
Joining the briefing virtually, Dr Sahida Akhter, Cabinet Division Additional Secretary, said a total of six purchase proposals have been approved in the meeting.
The total expenditure has been estimated at Tk 957.42 crore, she added.
Among the proposals, two are from the Department of Road Transport and Highways, 2 from the Ministry of Industries, 1 from the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources, 1 from the Ministry of Food and 1 from the Ministry of Shipping, she mentioned.
Akhter said the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement has approved a proposal by the Food Department under the Food Ministry to purchase 50,000 metric tons of non-basmati boiled rice.
It will cost Tk 176.38 crore. The rice will be supplied by Bagadiya Brothers Private Limited of India.
She said the committee had approved a proposal by the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) under the industry ministry to purchase 30,000 tonnes of bagged granular urea fertilizer.
It will cost Tk 90.59 crore. Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) of Bangladesh will supply this fertilizer.
Other proposals approved at the meeting; Service Provider Computer Network System (CNSL) is engaged in toll collection of Meghna Bridge and Gomti Bridge on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway by the Department of Roads and Highways under Road Transport and Highways Department.
An approval has been given to extend the term of the company for 6 months till 30 September 2021.
It will cost approximately Tk 35.57 crore.
The meeting also approved a proposal from the Ministry of Shipping for procuring some ten 12-ton bollard pull tug boats with equipment from Dockyard and Engineering Works under Direct Procurement Method (DPM) at a cost of around Taka 166.97 crore.
Besides, under another proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, one lakh metric tons of crude oil will be imported from PT Bumi Siak Pusaku (BSP) Zapin, Indonesia for around Tk 431.14 crore.
The meeting approved another proposal from the Ministry of Industries for procuring reformed gas waste heat boiler and other machineries from M/s BORSIG Process Heat Exchange GmbH, Germany for the use of Jamuna Fertilizer Company Limited (JFCL) under Direct Procurement Method for around Tk 56.65 crore.
