The government has decided to purchase 10,000 tonnes of lentils and 11 million litres of soybean oil from domestic sources for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). This will cost around Tk 285 crore (Tk 284 crore 87 lakh 50 thousand). Out of this, soybean oil will be purchased for Tk 189 crore 47 lakh 50 thousand. Lentils will also be purchased for Tk 95 crore 40 lakh.
In view of the proposal of the Commerce Ministry, the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement has approved the purchase of lentils from Sheikh Agro Food Industries and soybean oil from City Edible Oil Limited. The approval was given in a meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday (December 18) under the chairmanship of Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed.
According to the meeting sources, when a tender was invited locally through an open tender system for the purchase of 10,000 tons of lentils to be sold at a subsidized price to one crore TCB family card holders, four bids were submitted. All four bids were technically and financially responsive.
After all the bidding processes, it was decided to purchase 10,000 tons of lentils (in 50 kg bags) from Sheikh Agro Food Industries, the lowest responsive bidder recommended by TEC. The total cost will be Tk 95.40 crore at Tk 95.40 per kg.
In view of another proposal by the Ministry of Commerce, the Advisory Council Committee has approved the purchase of 11 million liters of soybean oil locally through an open tender system in the fiscal year 2024-25.
When a tender was invited locally through an open tender system to purchase 22 million liters of soybean oil to be sold at subsidized prices to 10 million families holding TCB family cards, a bid was submitted for the supply of 11 million liters of soybean oil.
The bid was financially and technically responsive. After all the bidding processes, it was decided to purchase these 11 million liters of soybean oil from City Edible Oil, the only responsive bidder recommended by TEC. The cost of purchasing 11 million liters of soybean oil at 172.25 taka per liter will be 189 crore 47 lakh 50 thousand taka.
