Govt approves purchase of 100,000 tonnes of wheat

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The government Saturday approved the purchase of 100,000 tonnes of wheat at $419 per tonnne through international tender to ensure food security in view of the globally vulnerable food situation, reports UNB.

"The price of wheat in the international market remained low in the last 6-7 months," Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam told the reporters, after a meeting of the council of advisers' committee on public purchase at Planning Ministry.

He said the meeting approved the purchase reviewing the past and present prices of wheat on the international market, and considering the risk of price fluctuation in the future.

The adviser said the meeting also approved the import of 55,000 tonnes of MoP fertiliser at $1,043 per tonne, 50,000 tonnes of TSP fertilizer - 25,000 tonnes at $1,295 per tonne (Chittagong) and 25,000 tonnes at $1,297 per tonne (Mongla), and construction of Purbachal Uposhahar road.

The purchase committee also approved setting up of container-scanners at Chittagong Port at a total cost of over Tk 1.03 billion, including procurement of equipment, maintenance and other operational cost.

Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company SGS has won the tender at Tk 16.0 million lesser cost than the previous bid winner Cotecna. Earlier, the government cancelled the Cotecna bid following cancellation of their license as a PSI company due to irregularities.