Govt to procure 1.1cr litres of soybean oil

The government will procure around 1.1 crore litres of soybean oil and 8,000 tonnes of pulses for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), at a cost of nearly Tk 267.84 crore.

This decision came at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP), chaired by Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday, Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Sayeed Mahbub Khan told reporters.

The CCGP approved 15 proposals from different ministries – eight under the shipping ministry, two under the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, two under trade ministry, and one each under local government ministry, road transport ministry, and home ministry.

Total cost for implementing these proposals will be Tk 1,489.38 crore.

Sayeed Mahbub Khan said the TCB will procure soybean oil through the direct procurement method (DPM) from Meghna Edible Oil Refinery for a cost of Tk 194.56 crore. Each litre of oil will cost Tk 176.88, which was previously Tk 177.

The government will also buy 8,000 tonnes of pulses through the international open tender system for the TCB.

This commodity will be purchased from BINQ, the local agent of Arbel Bakliyat Hububat San Tic AS Kumhuriyat of Türkiye, for Tk 73.28 crore. The price of per kg pulses will be Tk 91.60.

On February 1, the government had procured 1.1 crore litres of soybean oil for the TCB, at a cost of Tk 194.70 crore. On January 19, the government approved the purchase of 10 lakh litres of soybean oil and 8,000 tonnes of pulses for TCB, at the cost of Tk 2,74.16 crore.

“There will be no crisis of essential commodities during the month of Ramadan,” Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told the media after the CCGP meeting.

“The soybean oil and pulses will be sold among nearly one crore family card holders. Apart from this, LCs are being opened to procure other essential commodities, as the importers are now able to open LCs, although there were some difficulties in the initial stage,” the minister said.

Replying to a question, he said that the import of fruits is being discouraged now.

“Import of fruits is being discouraged so that pressure is not put on the forex reserves, and also to ensure that farmers get a fair price for the local produce,” he added.

Additional Secretary Syed Mahbub Khan said the committee approved the 2nd variation proposal to extend the period of operation support of the project titled "Introduction of Bangladesh e-Passport and Automated Border Control Management."

It will cost Tk 88.11 crore. The project is being implemented by the German company Veridos GmbH.

The committee approved a purchase proposal for the project titled “Baraiyerhat-Hiako-Ramgarh road widening” at the cost of Tk 683.71 crore. It will be financed by the government, with loan assistance from the Exim Bank India.

A purchase proposal was approved for the appointment of VA Tech Wabag Ltd, for the physical work of “Reconstruction, Expansion and Operation of Pagla STP” under the Dhaka Sanitation Improvement Project (DSIP).

The project will be implemented under the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) at the cost of Tk 91.20 crore.

A variation proposal was approved for procuring Lot-1, Lot-2 and Lot-3 of 2 improved utility-type ferries for the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).

The committee has also approved the variation proposal against the construction and procurement of 4 Coastal Sea Trucks Lot-1 and Lot-2 each under this project, the cost of which would increase by Tk 43.17 crore.

Under the implementation of the Chittagong Port Authority, under the Ministry of Shipping, the committee has also approved the purchase of 15 high strudel carriers under the project titled “Procurement of equipment required for various yards and terminals of Chattogram Port.”

This project will cost Tk 126.10 crore.