United News of Bangladesh

The government on Wednesday approved procurement proposals for importing one cargo of LNG, 70,000 metric tons of fertiliser, and 25,000 metric tons of refined sugar to meet the growing domestic demand. The approval came at the 30th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room of the Secretariat. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed presided over the meeting. Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Finance Adviser said that the Energy and Mineral Resources Division will procure one cargo of LNG from the spot market through international quotation method from M/S Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore. The estimated cost is at around Tk 517.19 crore with the price per MMBtu set at $12.289. Under two separate proposals from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industries, the committee approved the procurement of 40,000 metric tons of DAP fertiliser by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) under the 8th lot from MA’ADEN, Saudi Arabia, at a cost of Tk 383.62 crore ($781 per ton). Govt approves procurement of 2 LNG cargoes The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will also procure 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertiliser under the 1st lot from KAFCO, Bangladesh, for approximately Tk 164.91 crore ($448.37 per ton). Besides, the committee approved a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to import 25,000 metric tons of refined sugar through international open tender. The procurement will cost around Tk 175.98 crore with the price per kilogram set at Tk 106.66.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday sought to continue procurement of LNG from Qatar for a long term period. "Bangladesh is currently purchasing LNG from Qatar. We want it to continue for a long term period," she was quoted as saying. The prime minister expressed the desire when newly appointed ambassador of Qatar to Bangladesh Seraya Ali  Al-Qahtani paid a courtesy call on her at PM’s official Ganabhaban residence here. Also read: Govt doing its best to rein in prices of essential commodities: PM PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. In reply, the Qatar envoy hinted the existing 15-year deal on LNG procurement with Bangladesh could be extended for a longer term. Welcoming the envoy of Qatar in Bangladesh, the PM hoped that the bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries would further be consolidated in the days to come. The envoy mentioned that Bangladeshi workers have been working efficiently to build stadiums in Qatar to host the upcoming Football World Cup-2022 scheduled to kick off November next. The prime minister conveyed greetings to the Emir of Qatar and its Prime Minister. Also read: Denmark to boost cooperation with Bangladesh in technology & energy: Danish team tells PM The Qatar ambassador said the relation between Bangladesh and Qatar would be a historic one in future.  PMO Senior Secretary Md Tofazzal Hossain Miah was present at the meeting. A process is on to sign several deals between the two countries on avoidance of double taxation, visa waiver and cultural affairs.  END/UNB/MS/ F 1645