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DHAKA, Jan 28, 2025 (BSS) - The government today approved separate proposals for procuring rice, lentil and sugar to address domestic demands and stabilize markets.

The approvals came from the 5th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) held here at the Cabinet Division conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Adviser to the Ministry of Finance Dr Salehuddin Ahmed chaired the meeting.

Following the meeting, Salehuddin said the committee approved the proposals in order to ensure steady flow of supply of essential commodities like rice, sugar and lentil.

"We'll try to ensure smooth flow of supply in the market during the Ramadan . . . Even until the end of the coming Ramadan. Along with the supply, strict monitoring is needed as well,” he added.

Following a proposal of the Ministry of Food, the Food Authority would procure 1,00,000 Metric Tons (MTs) of White Rice on G2G basis from Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (VINAFOOD11), Vietnam with a total cost of Tk 578.58 crore, with each MT priced at $474.25.

In response to a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would procure some 10,000 MTs of Sugar from City Sugar Industries Limited under local Open Tender Method (OTM) with around Taka 115.42 crore where per kilogram (Kg) Sugar would cost Taka 115.42.

Following another proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run TCB would procure some 10,000 MTs of lentil from Sheikh Agro Food Industries under local OTM with around Taka 98.45 crore where per Kg lentil would cost Taka 98.45.