Government to buy rice, wheat, sugar, LNG

Bangladesh has approved several proposals to purchase different types of food including rice, sugar, and wheat to ensure the supply of balanced food in the market.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday, along with the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee.

At the meeting, the procurement committee approved the purchase of two cargoes of LNG through an open tender from the spot market for November and December.

The government is buying LNG from Switzerland’s Total Energies Gas & Power at $13.11 per unit and $13.47 per unit from Gunvor Singapore.

The total cost of the two cargoes of LNG is Tk 12.54 billion.

In addition, approval was also given to buy 50,000 tonnes of wheat through package-1 of the international open tender. For $301.31 per unit, the total cost is Tk 1.81 billion. 

Per the proposal of the commerce ministry, approval has been given to buy 5,000 tonnes of sugar from City Group through an open tender. For Tk 120.90 per kg, the total cost is Tk 604.5 million.

For the food ministry, the procurement of 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from India’s Pattabhi Agro Foods through an open tender has been approved. For $477 per tonne, the total cost is Tk 2.86.

After the meeting, Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed said: “We have purchased some important products including fertiliser, sugar, wheat and rice during the purchase committee meeting. They will be brought soon. Adequate funds have been allocated. We will bring dates, lentils, and other essentials before Ramadan.”

“This was done so the consumers do not face any inconvenience. We also spoke about food stocks. I have told them about the amount which has to be imported at the government and private levels.”

The advisor also said: “We want assurance of balanced food. That is why we want to ensure the supply of dates, soybean, meat, fish, eggs, milk and pulses. We will take more measures to ensure the availability of these foods.”