Purchase committee approves proposal for importing 1 lakh tonnes of rice from Myanmar

The cabinet committee on government purchase today approved a proposal to import 1 lakh tonnes of rice under the two conditions from Myanmar.

The approval came in the fifth meeting of the CCGP in the current year, held virtually with Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal in the chair today. 

According to the statement of the finance ministry, the proposal of importing rice has been approved on two conditions.

Ministry officials said approval to import rice has been given with two changes due to the new government in Myanmar and the political instability of the country. Generally, Bangladesh had to pay through a bank before importing but considering the current situation, now it has to import by opening an LC in a bank and impose pay after import.

Although after the procurement committee meeting the finance minister had told reporters in a virtual briefing that the proposal to import rice from Myanmar was not approved, a written statement expressing regret sent by the ministry in this regard has amended that statement.

At the meeting, the finance minister did not approve a proposal of importing one lakh tonnes of wheat from Russia due to higher prices.

Ministry officials also said there was an agreement to import one lakh tonnes of wheat worth Tk 309.52 crore from Russia a long time ago. At present, the price of the product has gone up due to rising prices and the addition of export duty.

However, another proposal to buy 50,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia through tender was approved today.

The source said each metric tonne of wheat would cost $365 through government-to-government process, which was suspended, and $352.58 for each tonne of wheat though tender, which was approved.