The government has approved procuring 27.5 million litres of soybean oil for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to sell among the people at subsidised prices.
The cabinet committee on government purchase approved the proposal in this regard at its meeting on Wednesday, chaired by finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
Three local mills will supply the cooking oil at a total cost of Tk 5.09 billion - around Tk 185 per litre.
Earlier on November 30, the cabinet body approved buying 22 million litres of soybean oil at Tk 157 per litre, followed by another approval on November 3 for buying 11 million litres of soybean oil at Tk 163 per litre.
Amid soaring prices of essential commodities, the TCB is now selling each litre of soybean oil at Tk 110, sugar at Tk 55 per kg, lentil at Tk 65 per kg, and onion at Tk 20 per kg, to support people under tremendous price pressure.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, cabinet division additional secretary Sayed Mahbub Khan said the committee also approved procurement of 130,000 tonnes of fertilisers from Canada and United Arab Emirates at a total cost of Tk 8.535 billion.
Of the total quantity, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will buy 30,000 tonnes of bulk granular urea fertiliser from Fertiglobe Distribution Limited, UAE.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) will buy 100,000 tonnes of muriate of potash fertiliser from Canadian Commercial Corporation in two separate consignments.
Moreover, the BCIC has been given go ahead to import 10,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid for the Chittagong TSP Complex Ltd. from Guizhou Chanhen Chemical Corporation, China at a cost of Tk 738 million.
Meanwhile, the committee approved two separate proposals of cost escalation for construction of Chittagong elevated expressway and road construction between Chittagong's Kalurghat Bridge and Chaktai canal.
For the two projects the total expenditure will be enhanced by Tk 8.79 billion due to variation of works.
Also, the committee approved a proposal for procurement of six straddle carriers for the Chittagong port from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., China at a cost of Tk 498 million.
