40 Million Litres of Edible Oil, 22,500 Tonnes of Lentils Approved for Purchase

Photo: Collected

News Desk: The government has approved the purchase of 40 million litres of edible oil, including 20 million litres of refined soybean oil and 20 million litres of refined palm olein. The total cost of the procurement will be BDT 6.45 billion (645 crore 6 lakh 95 thousand). In addition, approval has been granted for the purchase of 22,500 metric tonnes of lentils.

The approvals were given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held on Wednesday (June 24).

Based on a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, the committee approved the procurement of 20 million litres of refined palm olein (in 2-litre PET bottles) through an open national tender process. The oil will be purchased from Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Limited of Dhaka at a cost of BDT 3.679 billion (367 crore 90 lakh). The approved price is BDT 183.95 per litre.

The committee also approved another proposal from the Ministry of Commerce to purchase 20 million litres of refined soybean oil through an international open tender process. The oil will be procured from Australia's MCG International Pty Ltd at a cost of BDT 2.771 billion (277 crore 16 lakh 95 thousand). The approved price is BDT 164.77 per litre.

Meanwhile, the committee approved the purchase of 22,500 metric tonnes of lentils at a total cost of approximately BDT 1.672 billion (167 crore 24 lakh 15 thousand 625).

Under a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, 10,000 metric tonnes of lentils (packed in 50-kilogram bags) will be purchased through a national open tender process. The lentils will be sourced from Payel Automatic Food Processing Mills of Chattogram for BDT 814.7 million (81 crore 47 lakh), with the price set at BDT 81.47 per kilogram.

In addition, a proposal to purchase another 12,500 metric tonnes of lentils through an international open tender process was approved. The lentils will be imported from Australia's MCG International Pty Ltd at a cost of BDT 857.7 million (85 crore 77 lakh 15 thousand 625). The approved price is BDT 74.86 per kilogram.