Staff Reporter :
The government is set to purchase more sugar, lentils, and edible oil to sell to low-income groups at subsidised prices under Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) programmes.
A meeting presided over by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, approved proposals regarding the purchases from the local market, the advisory committee on government purchases
After the meeting, the finance adviser told reporters the government has been prioritising purchasing essential items.
He also said there has been comfort to some extent in the commodity price situation.
As per one proposal, the government will purchase 55 lakh litres of soybean oil at a total cost of Tk 91.3 crore, according to a finance ministry statement.
Bashundhara Multi Food Products Ltd will supply the product at Tk 166 per litre.
Besides, the committee approved a proposal of purchasing 20,000 tonnes of sugar at a total cost of Tk 232.7 crore.
Of the total sugar, Meghna Sugar Refinery Ltd will supply 10,000 tonnes at Tk 116.85 per kg and another 10,000 tonnes at Tk 115.85 per kg.
Moreover, the government will purchase 10,000 tonnes of lentils from Nabil Naba Foods Limited at a total of cost of Tk 97.97 crore. At this price, lentils will cost Tk 97.97 per kg.
At the meeting, the committee also approved a proposal to import 50,000 tonnes of wheat which will cost $286.08 (approximately Tk 34,273) per tonne.
Singapore-based Agrocorp International Pte Ltd will supply the wheat.
