UNB, Dhaka:

The government will import LNG, fertiliser, soybean oil, sugar and chickpea to meet local demands.

Advisors’ Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) in a meeting, with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Admed in the chair, approved a number of procurement proposals in this regard.

After the meeting, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that the government will not allow any shortage of essential commodities.

“We have approved proposals to import four products so that there is no shortage in the market,” he said.

He said the government approved import of chickpea targeting the next Ramadan. “Soon, we will move to import dates for the same reason,” he added. “Despite financial constraints, by and large, we will try to ensure adequate supply of these essential products so that people do not suffer.”

According to two separate proposals moved by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the state owned Petrobangla will import two cargoes of LNG (liquefied natural gas) from the international spot market through limited tender.

The US-based Excelerate Energy LP will supply one LNG cargo, containing 33.66 lakh MMBtu (Million British Thermal Unit) at a cost of Tk 686.38 crore, with each MMBtu at $14.55.

The same company will supply another cargo of same quantity at a cost of Tk 669.50 crore, with each MMBtu at $14.65.

Three separate proposals of the Commerce Ministry received approval of the committee.

Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), a subsidiary of the Commerce Ministry, will import 10,000 metric tons (MT) of chickpea from Australia’s DSL Pacific Pty Ltd (4,000 MT) and Aust-Grant PTY LTD, (6000 MT) at a cost Tk 101.99 crore.

The TCB will procure 32.60 lakh litres of soybean oil from the local Bashundhara Multi Food Products Ltd through direct purchase method (DPM) at a cost of Tk 53.18 crore, with each MT at Tk 163.65.

The TCB will procure 5,000 MT of sugar from the local City Sugar Industries Ltd through open tender at a cost of Tk 60.46 crore, with each kilogram at Tk 120.92.

Three separate proposals of the Industries Ministry received the nod of the committee.

Of these, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will import 30,000 MT of bulk granular urea fertiliser from Muntajar of Qatar at a cost of Tk 131.76 crore, with each MT at $366.

The BICI will import another 30,000 MT of bulk granular urea from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company of Saudi Arabia at a cost of Tk 137.76 crore, with each MT at $382.67.

The BIIC will procure another 30,000 MT of bagged granular urea from Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (Kafco) at a cost of Tk 131.53 crore, with each MT at $365.375.