The government is set to procure 50,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice under international open tender to strengthen food security alongside 80,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to meet the agricultural demand of the country.
The decision was taken at the 50th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase in 2025, held with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.
The rice will be procured by the Ministry of Food at a cost of Taka 214.70 crore, with a per-tonne price of $351.11. India-based M/S Bagadiya Brothers Private Ltd has been selected as the supplier.
Officials said the import would help maintain adequate public food supplies and stabilise prices in the domestic market.
The day’s purchase committee meeting also recommended approval of two proposals placed by the Ministry of Industries to import a total of 80,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser from Saudi Arabia to meet agricultural demand.
Under the proposals, 40,000 metric tonnenes of fertiliser will be imported as the 12th lot and another 40,000 metric tonnenes as the 13th lot from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company at a unit price of $413.46 per metric tonne. Each lot will cost about Taka 203.09 crore.
The committee also recommended approval of a proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Naogaon with a capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes and around ₹ 54.70 crore to improve storage and distribution.
Besides, the meeting recommended approval of another proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Bogura with a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes and around Taka 59.28 crore, as well as to improve the storage and distribution of such key agricultural inputs.
Officials said imports and storage facilities would help ensure uninterrupted fertiliser supplies during peak farming seasons.
Apart from these, the day’s purchase committee meeting recommended approval for several major infrastructure procurement proposals aimed at improving roads, bridges, and local infrastructure across the country.
Among the approved proposals, a World Bank-supported LGED project, with a contract value of Tk 363 crore, will be implemented in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The committee also cleared multiple road development project-related proposals under the Road Transport and Highways Division, including four-lane upgrading of regional highways in Cumilla, Lakshmipur and Noakhali, and construction of the Rabnabad Bridge over the Rabnabad River in Patuakhali.
Officials said the approved proposals would enhance connectivity, improve logistics and support regional economic growth.
