DHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) – The government today approved separate proposals to procure 1 crore litres of soybean oil and 10,000 metric tons of lentil to stabilize the market ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The government would also procure 75,000 metric tons of fertilizer alongside approving a proposal in the roads sector as well as procuring one small research vessel and two speed boats to facilitate oceanographic research in the country.

The approvals came from the 4th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in this year held today with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said considering the upcoming Holy Month of Ramadan, the committee approved the procurement of 10,000 metric tons of lentils and one crore litres of refined soybean oil. Lentil will be procured from KBC Agro Products Private Ltd, a local Bangladeshi company, while soybean oil will be procured from Super Refinery Limited and Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Ltd.

The proposal, placed by the Ministry of Commerce, involves procurement of lentil through national open tender method in 10 separate lots. The total estimated cost stands at Taka 70.96 crore with a unit price of Taka 70.96 per kilogram.

The committee recommended KBC Agro Products Private Limited as the supplier. Officials said the procurement would strengthen government buffer stocks and help stabilize lentil prices in the domestic market.

In a bid to keep edible oil prices stable, the government has also approved a proposal to procure 1 crore liters of refined soybean oil.

The proposal was placed by the Ministry of Commerce. The total procurement cost has been estimated at Taka 185.92 crore.

The committee recommended sourcing 50 lakh liters from Super Oil Refinery Limited at Taka 185.95 per liter, and another 50 lakh liters from Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Ltd at Taka 185.90 per liter.

Officials said the move would strengthen public stock and help regulate the edible oil market.

Fouzul said that two proposals from the Ministry of Industries and Agriculture for procuring both urea and MOP fertilizer were approved to support agricultural production.

Under the proposal from the Ministry of Industries, 40,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer will be imported from Fertiglobe Distribution Limited, UAE, at a cost of Taka 201.22 crore with per ton fertilizer costing $410.

Separately, under a state-level agreement placed by the Ministry of Agriculture, 35,000 metric tons of MOP fertilizer will be imported from Russia through JSC Prodintorg, with a total cost of Taka 151.56 crore. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) will import such fertilizer with per ton costing $352.93.

Officials said the fertilizer imports would ensure uninterrupted supply during the upcoming farming seasons.

In line with the government’s Blue Economy initiative, Fouzul said a proposal from the Ministry of Science and Technology to purchase one research vessel and two speedboats was approved.

The Purchase Committee cleared a Taka 161.71 crore proposal for procurement of one small research vessel for sample collection and two speed boats for the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute, to be supplied by Khulna Shipyard Limited.

The day’s purchase committee meeting also recommended approval of reprocessing a procurement proposal for a major road project connecting Lakshmipur, Noakhali and Feni districts with the National Special Economic Zone, aimed at improving regional connectivity and industrial growth.