The cabinet committee on government purchase (CCGP) at a meeting on Wednesday approved import of 3.36 million MMBTu liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Switzerland-based AOT Trading at a cost of Tk 2.433 billion.
Bought from the sport market, the LNG will cost US$ 7.2855 per MMBTu.
The committee also approved import of 50,000 tonnes of non-aromatic rice from M/S PK Agri Link Private Ltd, India, at a cost of Tk 1.746 billion or $411.93 per tonne to meet the local demand amid growing rice price in the country.
The price of rice went up significantly in the local market recently.
Meanwhile, the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) at its meeting earlier on the day also approved import of 0.1 million tonnes of non-aromatic rice from the National Federation of Farmer's Procurement Processing and Retailing Co-operatives India Ltd. (NACOF) under direct purchase method.
The procurement will be done through government-to-government arrangement.
Briefing newsmen after the virtual meetings, finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the government has approved importing rice to meet the present and future demand for the item.
"We won't import (rice) excessively. That will hurt our growers," he said, replying to a question about approving several rice import proposals in the recent months. "We will not also buy less than the demand so that the consumers don't suffer," he added.
Replying to a query about sufferings of the low income people during the ongoing lockdown, the minister only said he would do anything to lessen their woes.
He said that there are authorities concerned to look after the issue keeping in mind the sufferings of the people.
Mr Kamal further said his ministry was also keeping an eye on the issue so that the people do not suffer.
The CCGP has also approved proposals for developing roads in Shariatpur-Ibrahimpur Ferry Ghat area, development of Ashuganj-Akhaura road to four-lane national highway, and appointment of consultants for feasibility study of constructing a bridge over Meghna river in Shariatpur-Chandpur and Munshiganj road.
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