Drone, fireworks, aerial shows approved
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday approved a proposal in principle for following the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) to hold drone, aerial and fireworks shows to celebrate the golden jubilee of the country's independence on March 26 this year.
The approval came from the fifth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of this year, held virtually with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting virtually, Kamal said the government wants to observe the golden jubilee in a colourful, befitting and festive manner.
For this, he said the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will hold drone, aerial and fireworks shows, as well as highlight various achievements of the country over the years.
"These shows will be held to inform citizens about our achievements through creating a nice environment. We hope people, irrespective of their age, will enjoy these shows," he added.
Subject to necessary amendments to the Public Procurement Rules, the meeting approved, in principle, a proposal from the Ministry of Food to reduce the timeframe of procurement process for importing rice and wheat through international open tendering method for emergency state purposes.
Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, while briefing virtually, said the meeting also approved, in principle, a proposal for procuring one lakh metric tonnes of non-basmati boiled rice from National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd through DPM method, in line with sections of Public Procurement Act, 2006 and Public Procurement Rules, 2008 (PPR), on emergency state purposes
The finance minister said the government would procure this rice from India, but under the existing rules and law, it is not possible to import rice from international market in a short time without tender.
For this, he said, the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division has been asked to make necessary amendments to laws related to its timeframe.
Kamal said after floating tender, there is a need to usually wait for 40-42 days to import goods from international market, but price of essential and consumer items like onion, rice and edible oil goes up and down every now and then in international market.
As a result, he said, tenderers do not want to wait for a long time and tend to show less response.
Under the circumstances, the finance minister said, the government wants to import that rice within the shortest possible time through opening letter of credit (LC) and ensuring all necessary arrangements for which amendments would be brought to the PPR.
Replying to a question, Kamal said that he took the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday, and since then he did not experience any side effect.
"Please, all of you do take the Covid-19 vaccine…vaccines should be taken by everybody, especially those who are eligible," he added.
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