Another 2 lakh tonnes of wheat from Russia on way

The government is set to import two lakh tonnes of wheat from Russia under a state-to-state arrangement as part of an aggressive move to boost the country's food stock.

The development comes after the cabinet committee on purchase yesterday approved the import of wheat for $252 per tonne, which the food ministry says is on a par with the international market price.

At present, the wheat price in Ukraine is $252 per tonne, in the US $251 and in Australia $256, according to the proposal.

In the last three months, the government has moved to import 10.5 lakh tonnes of rice and wheat both through state-to-state arrangement and open tender after rice production suffered major losses due to flash floods and fungal attacks.

The flash floods in six northeastern haor districts and the fungal attacks (rice blast) in 19 districts during the boro season led to the loss of 20 lakh tonnes of the staple, according to the food ministry.

In recent months, at least 20 districts in the north and elsewhere have been flooded, which will affect the aman crop.

In this context, the rice price rose, and on the other hand, the government's rice stock plunged to below two lakh tonnes.

Thanks to a number of recent government initiatives, food stock increased to 4.37 lakh tonnes -- rice stock 3.08 lakh tonnes -- on August 28.

The government is also working to immediately import more than two lakh tonnes of rice from Myanmar despite the tension centring the Rohingya influx from the neighbouring country.

Food Minister Qamrul Islam already left for Myanmar yesterday to sign a preliminary agreement for importing 10 lakh tonnes of rice per year, said a food ministry official.

“The food minister will return tomorrow. He is likely to brief the press in this regard on Sunday,” the official added.

Meanwhile, a cabinet committee meeting last month decided to import 20 lakh tonnes of food grains -- 15 lakh tonnes of rice and five lakh tonnes of wheat -- this fiscal year.

SHIFTING OF POWER PLANT

The cabinet committee on purchase also approved a proposal to shift 95 megawatt gas-based power plant of Aggreko International Projects in Ashuganj to Bhola. Alongside, the tenure of the company has been extended by another four years.

In 2010 the company was given permission to set up the power plant on a build-own-operate basis for four years. Later, the tenure was extended several times.  Yesterday, the tenure was extended by another four years at a price of Tk 3.0628 per kW/h against its previous rate of Tk 3.0628 kW/h.

RETROACTIVE APPROVAL

Meanwhile, due to landslides in Rangamati in recent months, the roads and highways division spent Tk 14.45 crore for quick resumption of road communication. The division took the retroactive approval yesterday about the spending.