Govt to import more 50,000 tonnes of rice from India

The government has decided to procure an additional 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice from India to meet emergency needs and protect public interest in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The procurement price has been fixed at Tk 42.98 per kilogram.

The decision was approved at a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat on Monday, December 15, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.

According to meeting sources, the Advisory Committee on Economic Affairs has already approved the import of a total of 9,00,000 tonnes of rice from international sources in the 2025-26 fiscal year to meet state emergency requirements.

As part of efforts to strengthen government food stocks and ensure smooth public distribution, an international open tender was floated for importing 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice. 

Six bids were submitted, all of which were found technically and financially responsive.

Following evaluation, the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) recommended awarding the contract to the lowest bidder, M/S Bagadia Brothers Private Limited of India, at a rate of $351.11 per tonne.

The total cost of the import will be $17.56 million, equivalent to Tk 2.147 billion. Based on this calculation, the purchase price has been set at Tk 42.98 per kilogram.

MAS/MHK/NMA