CCGP approves chickpea, edible oil procurement for TCB

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) today approved the procurement of 9,000 tonnes (MT) of chickpeas and 10 million litres of refined rice bran to strengthen the stock of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

The approvals were given at the 43rd meeting of the CCGP held at the Cabinet Division in the city with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair.

The Ministry of Commerce placed the proposals as part of the government's efforts to ensure adequate supplies of essential commodities for TCB's subsidised and open-market sales programmes.

Under the first proposal, the CCGP approved the import of 9,000 tonnes of chickpeas through an international open tender. Aust-Grain Exports PTY LTD of Australia was selected as the supplier.

The total procurement cost has been estimated at TK 76.22 crore, with the unit price fixed at TK84.67 per kilogram.

The committee also approved the procurement of 10 million litres of refined rice bran through the Local Open Tender Method (LTM).

The oil will be supplied to TCB in 2-litre PET bottles for distribution through open-market sales. The total cost of the procurement is TK181.50 crore, with the unit price set at TK181.50 per litre.

Four local suppliers will provide the oil. Green Oil & Poultry Feed Industries and Prodhan Oil Mills Limited will each supply 2 million litres, while Majumder Bran Oil Mills Ltd. and Majumder Products Ltd. will each supply 3 million litres.

The approved procurements are expected to help maintain adequate stocks of essential food items and support the government's efforts to keep prices stable, particularly for lower-income consumers.