Import of 1.10 lakh tonnes food grains gets nod
A food ministry proposal to import about 1.10 lakh metric tons of food grains was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase yesterday.
Food Department will import the food grains in bulk under three separate packages as part of the government move to meet domestic demand through imported rice.
Of the food grains, 60,000 tonnes will be boiled non-Basmati rice in two packages and the remaining 50,000 tonnes wheat in one package.
An Indian supplier, New Delhi-based Emmsons International Limited, will supply both rice and wheat. The price of boiled non-Basmati rice has been fixed at 510 US dollar per metric ton while the price of wheat fixed at 348.91 US dollar per tonne.
Official sources said the two rice import tender proposals were earlier rejected by the tender evaluation committee (TEC) as the rate was higher than that offered by the Indian government under a government-to-government agreement.
“But the same TEC committee backed out from its earlier stance on tender rejection and approved the proposal for reasons not known,” said an official source.
The cabinet body's meeting, chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, also approved some other projects including procurement of consultancy services for JICA-funded South-Western Rural Infrastructure, additional renovation and construction works for Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong and Osman Ali Stadium in Narayanganj, and appointment of contractors for railway rehabilitation works on Sholashahar-Dohazari and Fateyabad-Nazirhat sections.
A proposal for procurement of biscuits under a “European Commission (EC) assisted School Feeding Programme” also received the nod of the committee.
Under the proposal, placed by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, five local factories will supply the biscuits for the school children.
The suppliers are Nabisco Biscuit & Bread Factory, Central Marketing Company, Masafi Bread and Biscuit Factory, Resco Biscuit & Bread Factory, and Mona Food Industry.
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