Govt approves import of 50,000 tonnes of wheat
The cabinet committee on government purchase yesterday approved a proposal to import 50,000 tonnes of wheat.
The committee gave the approval for the Directorate of Foodstuff to acquire the wheat from Singapore-based Agrocorp International for Tk 138.61 crore.
Here is the first proposal for importing wheat to get approval this fiscal year.
Earlier the government fixed this fiscal year's budget with programs to import 4.80 lakh tonnes of wheat.
Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, additional secretary to the cabinet division, told a press briefing that every metric tonne of wheat will be costing $326.92 while each kilogramme Tk 27.72.
In case of rice, the federal government budget this fiscal year was designed with plans to import 1 lakh tonnes. On the other hand, till date, the approval has been granted for the import of 3.50 lakh tonnes by the pay for committee for the Directorate of Food to boost grain reserves.
Out of the 3.50 lakh tonnes, the committee on January 6 approved three proposals of the directorate for the order of 2.5 lakh tonnes from Indian and Singaporean firms.
Earlier in December 2020, the nod was given for the import of 1 1 lakh tonnes.
The food ministry can be likely to import more rice from India and Myanmar.
It has also allowed private companies to import the staple grain so that you can increase domestic supply and contain volatile prices sweeping through local market segments earlier this month.
The meals ministry has up to now given permission for the exclusive sector to import 8.16 lakh tonnes of rice.
The meals ministry on January 12 formed a "control room" to monitor and acquire info on the import of rice by the personal sector.
Six senior officials, including three senior assistant secretaries to the ministry, have already been tasked with undertaking the coordination of the "control room".
The officials are anticipated to utilise numerous methods.
This consists of keeping a tab on the amount of letters of credit (LCs) opened against the approved amount, whether the imports were being made through L/Cs and disruptions in the import process.
It will be noted where in fact the imported rice had been sold and if the field level officials of the Directorate of Food were observing these issues properly.
In yesterday's appointment the committee also approved a proposal of the Strength and Mineral Means Division to acquire 30,000 tonnes of diesel from Numaligarh Refinery of India for Tk 107.72 crore for six months till coming June.
FINANCE MINISTER'S BRIEFING
During a briefing following the meeting, Financing Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal wished for the United Nations Committee for Development Policy to approve Bangladesh's status graduation to a producing country in another assessment this February.
He claimed Bangladesh had become eligible to get the upgradation from minimal developed category on getting together with all 3 of its criteria.
He said this achievement for this time will be historic, especially because Bangladesh was observing the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman alongside its 50th anniversary of independence.
