The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Advisers Committee on Public Purchase at a meeting yesterday approved a proposal for procurement of 74,000 metric tonnes of rice and 33,000 tonnes of wheat from local suppliers.

According to the proposal placed by the Food Ministry at the meeting, the local traders will supply the rice at rates between Tk 26.77 and Tk 27.95 per kg from their imported stock while wheat at rates between Tk 30.68 and Tk 30.88 per kg.

The price of the 74,000 metric tons of rice will be Tk 203.38 crore while that of the 33,000 tons of wheat Tk 101.46 crore.

Earlier on December 10, the Purchase Committee approved a proposal for procurement of 43,000 metric tons of rice at a cost of Tk 115.52 crore.

After the meeting yesterday, Finance Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam told journalists that the private sector traders have already imported the rice and wheat.

"We are procuring directly from them to save time as normal import takes at least 45 days to complete tender procedures," he said.

Food Ministry officials said the purchase of rice and wheat is part of the government efforts to build up a good stock of foodgrains to tackle any emergency situation.

Earlier, the Food Adviser has said the government was trying to procure huge foodgrains from different sources to meet the demands in the days ahead.

As part of the move, the Food Ministry has already announced its plan to import 5 lakh tons of rice from neighbouring India and other countries.

The Cabinet Purchase Committee also sent back two proposals of the Power Ministry, one for rehabilitation of unit-4 and 5 of the Karnaphuli Hydropower plant and another for setting up eight rental-basis private power plants having a total of 300 MW power generation capacity.

About sending back the two proposals, Mirza Azizul Islam said these two projects need further review, as available infrastructure and fuel were not ready for the rental project.