The government has approved the import of 100,000 tons of rice from India and Pakistan at a total cost of Tk581.41 crore.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP), chaired by Economic Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, on Thursday.
Import details from Pakistan
The committee approved the import of 50,000 tons of Atap rice from Pakistan under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement.
The rice will be procured from the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) at a cost of Tk304.39 crore, excluding customs duty and VAT.
Each ton will cost $499, according to a proposal from the Ministry of Food, which facilitated the agreement.
Import details from India
Another 50,000 tons of non-Basmati parboiled rice will be imported from India through an international open tender.
The supplier, M/s Gurudiyo Export Corporation Private Limited, will provide the rice under Package-6 at a rate of $454.14 per ton.
This transaction is projected to cost Tk277.02 crore, as per the Ministry of Food's recommendation.
Other import approvals
The CCGP meeting also approved the import of sugar, liquefied natural gas (LNG), soybean oil, palm oil, and lentils to meet domestic demand.
