Ukraine has proposed supplying 1.0 million tonnes of milling wheat to Bangladesh under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, even as Kyiv has raised serious objections to wheat imports by Dhaka from its territories under Russian occupation, sources said.
They said Dhaka is scrutinising the proposal submitted by the Arista Trading AG of Ukraine to the Ministry of Food. Copies of the request have been shared with the commerce and agriculture ministries.
Officials familiar with the process said the G2G framework could offer price stability, assured quality, and supply security, especially at a time when private imports are affected by fluctuating freight costs, insurance premiums, and market speculation.
The Eastern European country remains one of the world's major wheat exporters despite ongoing geopolitical tensions. Wheat consumption has steadily increased in Bangladesh due to changing dietary patterns and urban demand.
Food ministry sources indicate that any final decision will hinge on price competitiveness, grain quality specifications, delivery timelines, and geopolitical risk assessment, including transport routes and insurance coverage.
"The G2G food grain deals are no longer just commercial transactions; they are instruments of economic diplomacy," said a senior official, noting that Bangladesh has increasingly relied on such arrangements during periods of global stress.
The proposal is currently under inter-ministerial review. If it clears technical and financial scrutiny, negotiations on quantity, pricing formula, and shipment schedules could follow.
Even though Ukraine has offered a major G2G deal, Kyiv has been simultaneously accusing Bangladesh of importing stolen grain-wheat allegedly harvested in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and exported via Russian ports, the senior official said.
The government has maintained its food security strategy through diverse G2G deals, including a recent long-term agreement with the US to import 0.7 million tonnes of wheat over five years. The food ministry has also publicly addressed, and defended, the pricing and quality of its G2G imports, particularly from the US.
rezamumu@gmail.com