Government to procure edible oil and lentils to stabilise the market

The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase today recommended approving separate proposals to procure lentils and edible oil to stabilise the market for essential commodities ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The decision was made at the committee’s first meeting of the year, held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.

The committee approved the procurement of 10,000 metric tons of lentils through the national Open Tender Method (OTM) at an estimated cost of around Taka 71.87 crore, with the price fixed at Taka 71.87 per kg. The proposal, submitted by the Ministry of Commerce, selected Payel Automatic Food Processing Mills, Chattogram, as the supplier.

Additionally, the committee approved the import of 1,35,75,000 litres of refined soybean oil under the international Direct Procurement Method (DPM) at a cost of approximately Taka 178.47 crore, with the per-litre price set at Taka 131.47. The soybean oil will be imported from Thailand through Prime Corp World Company Limited.

Meanwhile, a separate proposal to procure soybean oil through the national tender was withdrawn at the Ministry of Commerce’s request.