The government has decided to purchase 9,000 tonnes of chickpeas through an internationally open tender and 10 million litres of refined rice bran oil through a locally open tender.
The two proposals, placed by the Ministry of Commerce, were approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat on Wednesday (September 9). The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
Under the decision, the government will purchase 9,000 tonnes of chickpeas through an international open tender at a total cost of Tk 76.21 crore.
Including value-added tax (VAT) and other applicable taxes, the price of chickpeas has been fixed at Tk 84.67 per kilogram.
The committee recommended purchasing the chickpeas from Aust-Grain Exports, a company based in Horsham, Victoria, Australia. The company’s address is 31 Golf Course Road, Horsham, Victoria, Australia.
Meanwhile, the committee also recommended approval of a proposal to purchase 10 million litres of refined rice bran oil through a local open tender. The oil will be supplied in two-litre PET bottles.
The total cost of the rice bran oil will be Tk 181.50 crore, with the price, including VAT and taxes, set at Tk 181.50 per litre.
Four companies have been recommended to supply the rice bran oil. Green Oil and Poultry Feed Industries will supply 2 million litres, Pradhan Oil Mills Ltd 2 million litres, Majumdar Bran Oil Mills Ltd 3 million litres and Majumdar Products Ltd 3 million litres.
According to the proposal, Majumdar Products Ltd’s share of the supply will be worth Tk 54.45 crore. The other suppliers will also provide the quantities allocated to them under the tender recommendations.
The purchases are part of the government’s efforts to ensure the availability of essential food commodities in the domestic market.
