DHAKA, June 14, 2023 (BSS) - The government today approved separate proposals for procuring some 33.60 lakh MMBtu LNG, 90,000 metric tons of fertilizer, 80 lakh litres of soybean oil and 12,500 metrics tons of sugar to meet the growing demand of the country.

The approvals came from the 21st meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in this year held today virtually with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting virtually, Cabinet Division additional secretary Sayeed Mahbub Khan said that the day's CCGP meeting approved a total of 12 proposals.

He said that following a proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Petrobangla would procure some 33.60 lakh MMBtu LNG from M/S Excelerate Energy LP, United States with Taka 574.65 crore where per MMBtu LNG would cost $13.9.

Mahbub said in three separate proposals, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) under the Ministry of Industries would procure some 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer from KAFCO, Bangladesh under the 19th lot with around Taka 104.44 crore with per ton fertilizer costing $319.87 against the previous price of $364.

Besides, the BCIC would also procure 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer from Fertiglobe Distribution Ltd, UAE in the 12th lot under state-level agreement for around Taka 94.14 crore with per ton costing $319.87 against the previous price of $319.17 while the BCIC would also procure some 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer from Muntajat , Qatar under the 17th lot under state-level agreement with around Taka 98.05 crore where per ton fertilizer would cost $300.33 down from the previous per ton price of $319.17.

The Cabinet Division additional secretary said that following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would procure some 12,500 metric tons of sugar from a Singaporean company with around Taka 64.52 crore while the TCB would also procure some 80 lakh liters of soybean oil from City Edible Oil Company Limited with around Taka 161.37 crore where per liter soybean oil would cost Taka 129.09.

Following a proposal from the Health Services Division, Community Based Health Care Authority would procure some 27 types of medicines for the countrywide 14,200 community clinics from the Essential Drugs Company Limited with around Taka 250 crore.

Mahbub said in response to another proposal from the Road Transport and Highways Division, the joint venture of Mir Habib Alam and Mahabub Brothers Private Ltd has been awarded the package umber WP-03 with around Taka 129.64 crore under the project for Shariatpur-Janzira-Naodoba (Padma Bridge Approach) road development project.

The day's CCGP meeting also approved three price variation proposals from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and one variation proposal from the Bridges Division.