The government is looking for alternative ways to import wheat after the inordinate delay of supply by Ukraine, officials said.
The state-run Directorate General (DG) of Food has completed two tenders and signed contracts with local agents of foreign companies for importing 100,000 tonnes of wheat from alternatives sources.
"We've signed contacts with two local agents of foreign firms for importing 100,000 tonnes of wheat (50,000 tonnes + 50,000 tonnes separately) considering the price competitiveness," a high official of the Ministry of Food (MoF) told the FE.
He said the food department will procure wheat from other foreign sources at a rate of US $ 270 and $ 268.47. There will be more tenders for importing wheat from different sources.
Ukraine was supposed to supply 0.25 million tonnes of wheat at a rate of $ 297.50 per tonne (including shipment, insurance and other expenditure) under the government-to-government (G-to-G) arrangement.
But the current volatile situation in Ukraine is believed to be the reason for the delay in wheat shipment, forcing the government to seek viable alternative sources.
To enhance wheat shipment from Ukraine, the food ministry has sent contract paper with counter sign to Ukraine recently for getting their response. But Dhaka is yet to get response from Kiev.
"We sent contract paper with counter sign to Ukraine. But we are yet to get its (Ukraine) response," the official added.
Each year, the ministry goes for domestic procurement and import purchase of food grain to ensure food security in the country.
Food Minister Quamrul Islam visited Ukraine from August 31 to September 3, 2014 and had meetings with the Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.
A government delegation from Ukraine visited the country on September 15 last and held meetings with the Director General (DG) of Food from September 17 to September 18 last and signed Agreed Minutes of the Meeting.
The duration for completing shipment will be 150 days from the date of signing of the agreement.
The Cabinet Committee on Purchase gave approval to the food ministry for importing wheat import after getting green signal from the Prime Minister's Office.
The first shipment of wheat will begin within 60 days of signing of the agreement. The consignment will arrive at Chittagong and Mongla ports.
The average annual production of wheat in the country is 1.0 million tonnes against the total demand of 3.5 million tonnes.
Apart from stocking wheat internally, the government is also planning to import it from Russia.
The total stock of food grains at the government silos and warehouses in the country is now estimated at 1.416 million tonnes. Of the stock, 1.146 million tonnes are rice while around 400,000 tonnes are wheat.
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