Govt to Review Proposals for Soybean Oil and Fertilizer Procurement

The government is likely to consider separate proposals for procuring 30,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer and more than 2.71 crore liters of soybean oil to meet the growing demand for the country. In this regard, the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase is set to meet tomorrow at the Bangladesh Secretariat and consider proposals for large-scale imports of refined soybean oil and urea fertilizer.

Finance and Science and Technology Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed will chair the meeting to be held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room of Bangladesh Secretariat. According to Cabinet Division officials, the committee will review a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce to procure 2,71,50,000 litres of refined soybean oil from the international market through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM), aiming to ensure adequate domestic supply and stabilize the edible oil market ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The meeting will also discuss a proposal from the Ministry of Industries to import 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer from Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) under the 11th lot for the current fiscal year 2025-26, to meet demand for such key agricultural input.

In addition to these key import proposals, the committee is expected to consider several other agenda items, including construction of fertilizer buffer warehouse in Faridpur and Gaibandha, procurement of vessels and high-speed boats for the Bangladesh Coast Guard, variation proposals for inland and coastal vessels under BIWTC projects, and multiple road safety and road connectivity projects across different regions of the country.

The meeting is also likely to consider a procurement proposal for hiring a UN agency for the FDMN (Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) part under the project titled “ISO Component-01: Pre-Primary and Primary Education Improvement Project in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban Districts, and Bhasanchar of Noakhali” (Package No SD-08) in line with the grant agreement between the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and the government of Bangladesh.

The meeting is likely to consider a procurement proposal for construction of one fertilizer godown at Faridpur (10,000 MT capacity) under Package-2, Lot-3 of the project titled “Construction of 34 Buffer Warehouses at Different Locations Across the Country for Fertilizer Storage and Distribution (1st Revised)” as well as another procurement proposal for construction of one fertilizer godown at Gaibandha (10,000 MT capacity) under Package-4, Lot-4 of the same project.

Apart from these, procurement proposal for construction of five Riverine Patrol Vessels (RPV) under Package WD-1 of the project titled “Procurement of Replacement Vessels to Enhance the Capability of Bangladesh Coast Guard (1st Revised)”, procurement proposal for purchase of two large high-speed boats for Bangladesh Coast Guard under the revenue budget are also likely to be considered in the tomorrow’s purchase committee meeting.

In addition, a procurement proposal for consultancy services covering road infrastructure assessment, design, supervision, environmental and social management, and land acquisition services under Package No. SP (RHD)-02m of the “Bangladesh Road Safety” project is likely to be discussed.