Dhaka: The government has given the green light to procure approximately 30,000 metric tonnes of urea fertiliser and over 2.71 crore litres of refined soybean oil in a bid to meet the increasing demand within the country.
According to United News of Bangladesh, these approvals were secured during a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase, held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room. The session was chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. The Ministry of Commerce’s proposal was approved to procure over 2.71 crore litres of refined soybean oil from the international market. This procurement will be executed through the Direct Procurement Method from NSRIC Green Supplies of Canada at an estimated cost of around Tk 357 crore. The initiative aims to stabilise the edible oil market and ensure sufficient supply ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan, with the per-litre cost of soybean oil set at Tk 131.49.
Additionally, the meeting endorsed a proposal from the Ministry of Industries to import 30,000 metric tonnes of bagged granular urea fertiliser from Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO). This procurement is part of the 11th lot for the fiscal year 2025-26 and is expected to cost Tk 149.17 crore, with the per-tonne cost of urea fertiliser being USD 405.25.
The committee also considered various other agenda items positively, including the development of fertiliser buffer warehouses in Faridpur and Gaibandha, acquiring high-speed boats for the Bangladesh Coast Guard, and implementing multiple road safety and connectivity projects across the country. A specific procurement proposal for constructing a fertiliser warehouse in Faridpur, with a capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes at a cost of around Tk 48.45 crore, was approved. Similarly, a proposal to construct another warehouse in Gaibandha with the same capacity was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Tk 47.35 crore.
Furthermore, the meeting sanctioned a procurement proposal involving around Tk 89.50 crore from the revenue budget for the purchase of two large high-speed boats for the Bangladesh Coast Guard. In addition, three separate procurement proposals under the ‘Bangladesh Road Safety’ programme received approval during the meeting.