Govt Gives Nod to Tk 22.01bn Purchase, Import Proposals

Bangla Press Desk:  The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Wednesday approved a series of procurement and import proposals involving a combined Tk 2,201 crore (Tk 22.01 billion), including fertiliser, textbooks, lentils, palm olein, power infrastructure and construction projects.

The approvals included importing 70,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser from Morocco for Tk 688.71 crore, procuring free textbooks for Class 8 and 9 students for the 2027 academic year at Tk 739.13 crore, and purchasing 10,000 metric tonnes of lentils and 20 million litres of refined palm olein for Tk 445.6 crore.

The committee also approved three contracts worth Tk 327.56 crore for construction of power substations, cargo handling services at Bhomra Land Port and construction of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) headquarters in Dhaka.

Under the first proposal, the committee recommended awarding a contract worth Tk 134.66 crore to TSTL-FYP Consortium, comprising TS Transformers Limited and Fujian Yongfu Power Engineering Co Ltd, for construction of five new 33/11 kV 1x10/14 MVA GIS-type electrical substations.

The project is aimed at strengthening the electricity distribution network in the Khulna Division and improving the capacity and reliability of power supply through new substations.

The committee also recommended awarding a Tk 20.31 crore contract to M A Hashem & Sons of Mongla, Bagerhat, for providing manual cargo handling services at Bhomra Land Port under the Bangladesh Land Port Authority.

Under the third proposal, the CCGP recommended awarding a Tk 171.90 crore contract to M Jamal & Company Limited for construction of the RAB headquarters in Dhaka.

The project, to be implemented by the Public Works Department as delegated works, includes construction of an 11-storey RAB headquarters building with a 15-storey foundation, including the Director General’s office and three basement levels.

The CCGP recommended approval of all three procurement proposals.

Import of Fertiliser

Under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement between Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Morocco-based OCP NUTRICROPS, S.A., the committee recommended importing 40,000 metric tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser under the optional first lot.

The DAP consignment will cost Tk 440.92 crore, with the price set at US$894 per metric tonne. OCP NUTRICROPS, S.A. was recommended as the supplier.

In another proposal, the committee recommended importing 30,000 metric tonnes of triple super phosphate (TSP) fertiliser from the same Moroccan company under the seventh lot of the G2G agreement.

The TSP fertiliser will cost Tk 247.79 crore, with the price fixed at US$669.33 per metric tonne.

The two purchases will bring the total quantity of fertiliser to 70,000 metric tonnes, comprising 40,000 metric tonnes of DAP and 30,000 metric tonnes of TSP.

Procurement of Textbooks

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) also approved proposals of the procurement of free textbooks worth Tk 739.13 crore for Class 8 and Class 9 students for the 2027 academic year.

Of the total amount, Tk 244.22 crore will be spent on printing, binding and supplying 3.87 crore copies of textbooks for Class 8 students, while Tk 494.92 crore will be spent on 5.21 crore copies for Class 9 students.

The textbooks will cover secondary-level Bangla and English versions, as well as Dakhil and technical education streams.

The government provides free textbooks to students at different levels of education as part of its efforts to ensure access to education and reduce the financial burden on families.

Lentils, palm oil

The CCGP approved procuring 10,000 metric tonnes of lentils and 20 million litres of refined palm oil at a combined cost of Tk 445.6 crore.

Palm oil is the liquid fraction obtained by separating whole palm oil through a controlled cooling and filtration process called fractionation.

The approvals were made with the purchases proposed by the Ministry of Commerce under the local open tendering method (OTM).

Under one proposal, the committee recommended the purchase of 10,000 metric tonnes of lentils, packed in 50-kg sacks, at a total cost of Tk 77.90 crore.

The approved rate for the lentils is Tk 77.90 per kilogram.

Banga Millars Ltd., PRAN-RFL Center, 105 Pragati Sarani, Middle Badda, Dhaka, was recommended as the supplier for the lentils.

In another proposal, the CCGP recommended procuring 20 million litres, equivalent to 20,000 metric tonnes, of refined palm olein in 2-litre PET bottles at a total cost of Tk 367.70 crore.

The price has been set at Tk 183.85 per litre.

Under the proposal, Sonargaon Seeds Crushing Mills Ltd., Fresh Villa, House 15, Road 34, Gulshan-1, Dhaka, will supply 10 million litres of refined palm olein.

Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Limited, T.K. Bhaban, 13 Kawran Bazar, Dhaka, will supply the remaining 10 million litres.

The committee recommended approval of both procurement proposals.

The purchases are part of the government’s efforts to maintain adequate supplies of essential food commodities.