Bangladesh Govt relaxes rules to speed up rice imports
The government has eased procurement rules to import one lakh tonnes of rice faster, allowing bid submissions within 15 days instead of 28. This aims to bolster foodgrain stocks and stabilize prices. The CCEA also approved the purchase of 10,000 tonnes of lentils and 100,000 tonnes of fertilizer to ensure steady supplies of essential commodities.
The government today relaxed public procurement rules to buy one lakh tonnes of rice from international market through private suppliers in a shorter period, according to a decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
Under the new directive, the food ministry can now seek bid submissions from private suppliers within 15 days of tender floatation instead of the previous 28 days, said a senior official of the Directorate General of Food.
The move comes as the government ramps up efforts to bolster public foodgrain stocks, including rice, through imports and curb the staple’s rising price.
The interim government earlier planned to import 700,000 tonnes of rice—the highest in seven fiscal years—to replenish stocks and intervene in the market to stabilise prices.
At the end of December last year, foodgrain reserves in government storages stood at 11.95 lakh tonnes, down 22 percent year-on-year, according to the food ministry.
“We will not allow any decline in the supply of essential commodities,” said Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed after the CCEA meeting at the secretariat.
Additionally, the committee approved the purchase of 10,000 tonnes of lentils from Nabil Naba Foods Ltd, a concern of Nabil Group of Industries, for nearly Tk 98 crore.
It also cleared proposals from state agencies to procure 40,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser and 60,000 tonnes of granular fertiliser.
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Source : The Daily Star
