Business Desk :

The government has decided to procure 50,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice and 80,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase on Monday at the Secretariat with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.

The Ministry of Food will procure 50,000 metric tonnes of rice at a cost of Tk 214.70 crore. India-based M/S Bagadiya Brothers Private Ltd has been selected as the supplier, reports UNB.
Officials said the rice import would help maintain adequate public food stocks and contribute to stabilizing prices in the domestic market.

The purchase committee 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.

Under the proposals, 40,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser will be imported as the 12th lot and another 40,000 metric tonnes as the 13th lot from SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company at a unit price of US$413.46 per metric tonne.

The committee further recommended approval of a proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Naogaon with a capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes at an estimated cost of Tk 54.70 crore to improve storage and distribution.

Another proposal to construct a fertiliser buffer warehouse in Bogura with a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes at an estimated cost of Tk 59.28 crore was also recommended for approval.
Onion imports from India through Benapol land port resumed on Monday after a gap of three months.

The first consignment of onions under the 31st transshipment entered Benapol from Petrapole port in India around 2 pm.

The imported onions were brought in by Satkhira-based M/S HK A Enterprise and Jessore-based M/S Sabah Enterprise.

Rafiqul Islam Royal, owner of the clearing agency Royal Enterprise, said that the consignment included three trucks carrying a total of 90 metric tonnes of onions.
In September, only 60 metric tonnes were imported.

Officials said the fertiliser imports and storage facilities would help ensure uninterrupted supply during peak farming seasons.

In addition, the meeting recommended approval of several major infrastructure procurement proposals aimed at improving roads, bridges and local infrastructure across the country.
Among them is a World Bank-supported project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), with a contract value of Tk 363 crore.

The committee also cleared multiple road development proposals under the Road Transport and Highways Division, including four-lane upgrading of regional highways in Cumilla, Lakshmipur and Noakhali, as well as the construction of the Rabnabad Bridge over the Rabnabad River in Patuakhali.

Officials said the approved projects would enhance connectivity, improve logistics and support regional economic growth.

Published Date: December 16, 2025