The government will import LNG, fertilizer, soybean oil, sugar, and chickpeas to meet local demands.
Advisers’ Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) in a meeting, with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Admed in the chair, approved several procurement proposals in this regard.
After the meeting, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that the government will not allow any shortage of essential commodities.
He said: “We have approved proposals to import four products so that there is no shortage in the market.”
He said the government approved the import of chickpeas targeting the next Ramadan.
He said: “Soon, we will move to import dates for the same reason. Despite financial constraints, by and large, we will try to ensure an adequate supply of these essential products so that people do not suffer.”
According to two separate proposals moved by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the state-owned Petrobangla will import two cargoes of LNG (liquefied natural gas) from the international spot market through limited tender.
The US-based Excelerate Energy LP will supply one LNG cargo, containing 3.36 million MMBtu (Million British Thermal Unit) at a cost of Tk686.38 crore, with each MMBtu at $14.55.
The same company will supply another cargo of the same quantity at a cost of Tk669.50 crore, with each MMBtu at $4.65.
Three separate proposals of the Commerce Ministry received approval of the committee.
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), a subsidiary of the Commerce Ministry, will import 10,000 tons of chickpea from Australia's DSL Pacific Pty Ltd (4,000 tons) and Aust-Grant PTY LTD, (6,000 tons) at a cost Tk101.99 crore.
The TCB will procure 3.26 million liters of soybean oil from the local Bashundhara Multi Food Products Ltd through direct purchase method (DPM) for Tk53.18 crore, with each tons at Tk163.65.
The TCB will procure 5,000 tons of sugar from the local City Sugar Industries Ltd through open tender at a cost of Tk60.46 crore, with each kilogram at Tk120.92.
Two separate proposals of the Industries Ministry received the nod of the committee.
Of these, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will import 30,000 tons of bulk granular urea fertiliser from Muntajar of Qatar at a cost of Tk131.76 crore, with each tons at $366.
The BICI will import another 30,000 tons of bulk granular urea from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company of Saudi Arabia at a cost of Tk137.76 crore, with each tons at $382.67.
