Published : 01 Oct 2026, 06:15 PM
Updated : 01 Oct 2026, 06:14 PM
The government has signed off on a series of major contracts for Dhaka's metro rail network and approved a draft agreement for an international operator to run and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port for 15 years.
The decisions came at separate meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, according to two finance ministry statements issued on Thursday.
The purchase committee approved 19 procurement proposals, including several major construction and systems packages for MRT Line 1 and Line 5's Northern Route, along with purchases of fertiliser, contraceptives and electricity.
The economic affairs committee, meanwhile, approved the draft of the final concession agreement for an international operator to run and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its adjoining overflow yard under a public-private partnership (PPP).
Metro Rail Contracts
Several contracts under the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project were approved at the purchase committee's 47th meeting of the year.
For MRT Line 1, Sinohydro-SEBCL Joint Venture will build depot infrastructure and buildings under Package CP-02 for Tk 42.85 billion.
Nishimatsu-TPL-Toda Joint Venture secured the Tk 115.91 billion contract for construction of the main line and stations under Package CP-06.
The Rampura-Notun Bazar section under Package CP-04 will be built by Tokyu-MIL Joint Venture under a contract worth Tk 180.37 billion.
CREC-MIL-MBEC Joint Venture was awarded another section of the main line under Package CP-07 for Tk 25.34 billion.
The L&T-Sumitomo Consortium will carry out track and electrical works under Package CP-09 for Tk 110.66 billion, while Larsen & Toubro Limited will install signalling and telecommunications systems and platform screen doors under Package CP-10 for Tk 64.47 billion.
For MRT Line 5's Northern Route, CREC-MIL-MBEC Joint Venture secured a Tk 26.71 billion contract for work on the Hemayetpur-Aminbazar and Natun Bazar-Bhatara sections under Package CP-03.
The government also approved a Tk 18.48 billion proposal from CPC-Hanil Joint Venture for work in the depot area under Package CP-02.
International Operator for NCT
At the economic affairs committee's 31st meeting of the year, the government approved the draft of the final concession agreement for an international terminal operator to run and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal and its adjoining overflow yard at Chittagong Port for 15 years.
The arrangement will be implemented under a PPP project.
The committee also considered proposals involving Russian urea.
A proposal to import urea directly from Russia under the direct procurement method was withdrawn.
However, the committee gave in-principle approval to a separate proposal to import urea from a Russian manufacturer through UAE-based Delta Star Trading.
Fertiliser Purchases
The purchase committee also approved several proposals to buy urea, DAP and TSP fertilisers to maintain supplies for the agriculture sector.
The government will buy 30,000 tonnes of bagged urea from local producer KAFCO for Tk 1.62 billion, at $438.125 per tonne.
It will also import 40,000 tonnes of urea from Saudi Arabia's SABIC Agri-Nutrients for Tk 2.29 billion, at $463.17 per tonne, and another 40,000 tonnes from UAE-based Fertiglobe for Tk 2.7 billion, at $545 per tonne.
Under a government-to-government agreement, 80,000 tonnes of DAP fertiliser will be purchased from Morocco's OCP Nutricrops in two 40,000-tonne consignments, each costing Tk 4.34 billion.
The government will also buy two consignments of TSP fertiliser from the Moroccan company -- 30,000 tonnes and 40,000 tonnes -- at $667.67 per tonne.
Healthcare, E-GP and Power
The government approved the purchase of 38.75 million cycles of third-generation oral contraceptive pills from Renata PLC under two packages for Tk 1.93 billion.
DohaTech New Media was appointed as a consultant for one year at Tk 421.8 million to modernise and maintain the government's electronic government procurement (e-GP) system.
The committee also approved electricity purchases from Ashuganj Power Station Company's 225MW combined-cycle plant at a revised rate of 4.6971 US cents, or Tk 5.7680, per kilowatt-hour.
