The government has decided to procure 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice and 80,000 tonnes of fertiliser, reports UNB.
The decision was taken at a meeting of Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase on Monday at the Secretariat with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.
The Ministry of Food will procure 50,000 tonnes of rice at a cost of Tk 2.14 billion. India-based M/S Bagadiya Brothers Private Ltd has been selected as the supplier.
Officials said the rice import would help maintain adequate public food stocks and contribute to stabilising prices in the domestic market.
The purchase committee also recommended approval of two proposals placed by the Ministry of Industries to import a total of 80,000 tonnes of fertiliser from Saudi Arabia.
Under the proposals, 40,000 tonnes of fertiliser will be imported as the 12th lot and another 40,000 tonnes as the 13th lot from SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company at a unit price of US$413.46 per tonne.
The committee further recommended approval of a proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Naogaon with a capacity of 25,000 tonnes at an estimated cost of Tk 547 million to improve storage and distribution.
Another proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Bogura with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes at an estimated cost of Tk 592.8 million was also recommended for approval.
Officials said the fertiliser imports and storage facilities would help ensure uninterrupted supply during peak farming seasons.
In addition, the meeting recommended approval of several major infrastructure procurement proposals aimed at improving roads, bridges and local infrastructure across the country.
Among them is a World Bank-supported project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), with a contract value of Tk 3.63 billion.
The committee also cleared multiple road development proposals under the Road Transport and Highways Division, including four-lane upgrading of regional highways in Cumilla, Lakshmipur and Noakhali, as well as the construction of the Rabnabad Bridge over the Rabnabad River in Patuakhali.
Officials said the approved projects would enhance connectivity, improve logistics and support regional economic growth.
