DHAKA, May 15, 2024 (BSS) - The government today approved separate proposals for procuring some 1.70 lakh metric tons of fertilizer and 10,000 metric tons of lentil to meet the growing demand of the country.

The approvals came from the 11th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in this year held today at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat with Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in the chair. Ali chaired the meeting virtually as he was infected with COVID-19.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Division Secretary (Coordination and Reforms) Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan said that the day's meeting approved a total of 19 proposals.

Of the approved proposals, one was from the Ministry of Commerce, two from the Ministry of Agriculture, one from the Secondary and Higher Education Division, five each from the Ministry of Industries, Power Division, four from the Local Government Division and one from the Ministry of Railways.

He said following a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would procure 10,000 metric tons of lentil locally by Open Tender Method (OTM) from Ease General Trading, Dhaka and Nabil Naba Food Products Ltd, Dhaka with around Taka 101.94 crore with per kg lentil costing Taka 101.94.

Following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) would procure some 40,000 metric tons of MOP fertilizer under the 1st lot from Canadian Commercial Corporation, Canada with around Taka 125.40 crore with per ton fertilizer costing $327.75.

The BADC in another proposal will procure 40,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer from MA'ADEN, Saudi Arabia under state-level agreement with around Taka 228.36 crore with per ton fertilizer costing $554.

Following separate proposals from the Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) would procure 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer from Muntajat, Qatar, under the 13th lot with around Taka 92.29 crore with per ton fertilizer costing $282.50.

In another consignment, the BCIC will procure 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer from SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia with around Taka 91.13 crore with per ton fertilizer costing $288.33 while the BCIC in another consignment would purchase 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer with around Taka 95.93 crore where per ton fertilizer would cost $366.375.

Mahmudul said the day's CCGP meeting approved another proposal from the Ministry of Industries under which four buffer godowns would be constructed in four districts -- Joypurhat (15,000 metric tons), Sirajganj (20,000 metric tons), Lalmonirhat (10,000 metric tons) and Dinajpur (20,000 metric tons) of the country.

The four buffer godowns will be constructed under the 1st revised project for construction of some 34 buffer godowns in different parts of the country for preservation of fertilizer and its distribution.

Mahmudul said the day's meeting also approved a proposal from the Ministry of Railways under which Taka 177.48 crore cost variation has been made for the 1st revised project for procurement of 20 meter gauge diesel electric locomotives and 150 meter gauge passenger carriages.

He informed that with the unused loan amount from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), some 35 more meter gauge carriages would be procured with zero interest rate for which the DPP of the project would be recast.