Govt to import 2.20 lakh tonnes wheat from US

The government on Tuesday recommended approval of a number of proposals, including procurement of 2.20 lakh tonnes of wheat, 2.30 lakh tonnes of fertilizer, and 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice to meet the growing demand of the country.

The approvals came from the 40th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in this year, held on Tuesday at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.

In the agriculture and industry sectors, the purchase committee meeting recommended approving several fertilizer import proposals under state-level agreements.

Under the Ministry of Industries, approval was given to import 30,000 tonnes of bulk granular urea fertilizer from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia at a cost of Tk 159.99 crore, with per tonne fertilizer costing US$435.

Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) will import: fourth, fifth and sixth lots of 40,000 tonnes each of DAP fertilizer from Banyan International Trading Limited, China at Taka 376.38 crore per lot ($768.75 per tonne), 10th lot of 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer from MA'ADEN, Saudi Arabia at Taka 383.84 crore ($784 per tonne); and the eighth lot of 40,000 tonnes of MOP fertilizer from Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), Canada at Taka 174.42 crore ($356.25 per tonne).

The day's purchase committee meeting also recommended approving a proposal to import 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati boiled rice from India under the international open tender method for the fiscal year 2025-26.

According to the proposal placed by the Ministry of Food, the Directorate General of Food will implement the procurement under Package-01 at a total cost of Taka 219.09 crore, with the price of per tonne of rice fixed at $359.77.

Indian supplier M/S Bagadiya Brothers Private Ltd, Bagadiya Mansion, Ground Floor, has been selected as the lowest responsive bidder for the contract. 

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, who chaired the meeting, said the government always remains alert regarding the country's rice situation.

"We are bringing in non-basmati boiled rice from India and wheat from the USA. The rice import is partly aimed at building reserves so that domestic procurement or production doesn't fall short," he said.

"Having a government buffer stock is always better, as private stocks alone may not stabilize the market. With rice already being transported by trucks again, the move will help ensure adequate supply and maintain price stability," he added.

At the same meeting, the purchase committee also endorsed another proposal from the Ministry of Food to import 2.20 lakh tonnes of wheat from the United States through a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement.

The total cost for the wheat import has been estimated at Taka 825.31 crore, with the price per tonne set at $308. US Wheat Associates-authorised firm Agrocorp International Pte Ltd has been nominated to supply the wheat.

Meanwhile, the day's purchase committee meeting recommended approving two proposals from the Power Division and one proposal each from the Local Government Division and the ICT Division.