Staff Correspondent

The government today approved separate proposals for procuring some 1.50 lakh metric tons of rice, 60,000 metric tons of fertilizer, 30,000 metric tons of rock phosphate to meet the growing demand of the country.

The government in separate proposals would also purchase 10,000 metric tons of lentil and 5,000 metric tons of sugar.

The approvals came from the 15th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase this year held today at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat today with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.

Following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Food, the government would procure 1 lakh metric tons of white rice on G2G basis from Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF), Myanmar with around Taka 618 crore with per ton of rice costing $515.

In another proposal, the government would purchase 50,000 metric tons of non-Basmati boiled rice from M/S Mondol Stone Product Pvt Ltd under package 3 under international OTM method for the current fiscal year (FY25) with around Taka 280.62 crore where per ton rice would cost $467.70.

Following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would procure 5,000 metric tons of sugar under local OTM method from City Sugar Industries Ltd. Dhaka with around Taka 59.21 crore with per kg sugar costing Taka 118.43.

Besides, the TCB would also procure 10,000 metric tons of lentil under local OTM method from M/S Payel Traders, Chattogram with around Taka 96.69 crore where per ton lentil would cost Taka 96.69.

Following three separate proposals from the Ministry of Industries, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) would procure 30,000 metric tons of bagged prilled urea fertilizer under the 6th lot from Qatar Energy Marketing with around Taka 133.08 crore for the current fiscal year (FY25) where per ton fertilizer would cost $369.67.

In another proposal, the BCIC would procure 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular (optional) urea fertilizer under the 11th lot from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia for the current fiscal year with around Taka 123.23 crore with per ton fertilizer costing $342.33.

Besides, the BCIC would procure 30,000 metric tons of rock phosphate from M/S Zentrade FZE, UAE (manufacturer: OCP, SA, Morocco) under international OTM method with around Taka 82.62 crore with per ton rock phosphate costing $229.50.

Apart from these, the day's purchase committee meeting approved four other proposals from the Local Government Division.