Shawdesh Desk:

Bangladesh government on Wednesday approved separate proposals for procuring some 50,000 tonnes of wheat and some 30,000 tonnes of granular urea fertiliser to meet the growing demand of the country.

The approvals came from the 21st meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase this year, held virtually with finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting virtually, Cabinet Division additional secretary Md Sabirul Islam said that the Ministry of Food would procure some 50,000 tonnes of wheat from M/S Agrocorp International Pte Ltd, Singapore for the current fiscal year with a budget of around Tk 209.51 crore.

He said that following a proposal from the Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation would procure some 30,000 tonnes of granular urea fertiliser from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia in the 2nd lot under a state-level agreement for around Tk 167.60 crore.

Sabirul said that the CCGP meeting decided to appoint the joint venture of Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd, Canada, Euro Consultant Mott Macdonald, Netherlands as the consultants with around Tk 127.64 crore for the Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Programme (Project-2).

He said that the meeting gave the nod to four proposals from the Ministry of Shipping.

The Cabinet Division additional secretary said that the Mongla Port Authority would procure the design, supply, and installation of a port reception facility from Lamor Corporation PLC, Finland with around Tk 111.08 crore and two oil recovery vessels, including oil schemer, boom, and ancillary equipment, also from Lamor Corporation PLC, Finland with around Tk 81.08 crore under the project for modern waste and released oil management project.

Sabirul said that the Mongla Port Authority would also procure a modern MARIPOL Waste Collection Vessel from Lamor Corporation PLC, Finland for around Tk 94.71 crore.

Besides, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority will procure a trailing suction hopper dredger from Scheepswerf Gebroeders Kooiman BV Lindtsedijk, Netherlands for around Tk 235.97 crore.

He also informed that the meeting approved two other proposals from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism for re-tendering, as well as a variation proposal from the Local Government Division.

Earlier, the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs was held virtually, but did not approve the lone proposal from the Power Division.