Govt to procure 0.10m tonnes of imported wheat
Monday, 10 September 2007
The caretaker government is going to procure 0.10 million (1 lakh) metric tonnes of imported wheat from local suppliers to replenish the food stock, reports UNB.
The Advisers Committee on Public Purchase Sunday approved a proposal of the Food Ministry for the purchase against the backdrop of growing concerns about the country's food reserves in the wake of a resurgence of floods.
However, Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, who presided over the meeting, ruled out any food crisis as he claimed that the country has sufficient food in stock.
"The supply of food is satisfactory… nothing to worry," he said.
He noted that the prices of foods on the international market are on the rise, "but we are selling rice at lower prices than that of imports."
The finance adviser said per kilogramme wheat would be procured at prices between Tk 25.78 and Tk 26.83. The total procurement cost will come to Tk 2.6053 billion (260.53 crore) and the government will procure the wheat through tender. The price variations will be because of distance of the food storage.
The committee, known as Cabinet Purchase Committee, also approved a proposal of the Industries Ministry for setting up a central effluent-treatment plant at a cost of Tk 2.96 billion (296 crore) in the proposed Savar Leather Industrial Zone (SLIZ).
But undertaking the project will be subject to approval of the SLIZ, which is not yet approved by the government, Aziz said.
The purchase committee also gave its nod to a proposal of the Housing and Public Works Ministry for earth filling of third-phase project of Uttara Model Town.
As per the proposal, the cost of per square metre of earth filling will be between Tk 146 and Tk 164.
The Advisers Committee on Public Purchase Sunday approved a proposal of the Food Ministry for the purchase against the backdrop of growing concerns about the country's food reserves in the wake of a resurgence of floods.
However, Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, who presided over the meeting, ruled out any food crisis as he claimed that the country has sufficient food in stock.
"The supply of food is satisfactory… nothing to worry," he said.
He noted that the prices of foods on the international market are on the rise, "but we are selling rice at lower prices than that of imports."
The finance adviser said per kilogramme wheat would be procured at prices between Tk 25.78 and Tk 26.83. The total procurement cost will come to Tk 2.6053 billion (260.53 crore) and the government will procure the wheat through tender. The price variations will be because of distance of the food storage.
The committee, known as Cabinet Purchase Committee, also approved a proposal of the Industries Ministry for setting up a central effluent-treatment plant at a cost of Tk 2.96 billion (296 crore) in the proposed Savar Leather Industrial Zone (SLIZ).
But undertaking the project will be subject to approval of the SLIZ, which is not yet approved by the government, Aziz said.
The purchase committee also gave its nod to a proposal of the Housing and Public Works Ministry for earth filling of third-phase project of Uttara Model Town.
As per the proposal, the cost of per square metre of earth filling will be between Tk 146 and Tk 164.