Bangladesh to import wheat from US, rice from India for Tk 1,044 crore
Bangladesh has approved the purchase of wheat from the United States and non‑basmati parboiled rice from India at a combined cost of Tk 1,044 crore.
In an earlier memorandum of understanding, Dhaka agreed to buy 700,000 tonnes of wheat annually from the US, valued at about $200 million, to secure tariff concessions from Washington.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The cabinet committee on government purchase cleared the proposals at its meeting at the Secretariat in Dhaka today.
Under the first deal, 220,000 tonnes of wheat will be imported from the US through a government‑to‑government arrangement.
The Directorate General of Food will implement the purchase at a cost of Tk 825.31 crore, with Agrocorp International Pte Ltd, authorised by US Wheat Associates, supplying the grain at $308 per tonne.
The second proposal involves the purchase of 50,000 tonnes of non‑basmati parboiled rice from India through an international tender. The contract, worth Tk 219.09 crore, was awarded to Bagadiya Brothers Private Ltd at a rate of $359.77 per tonne.
India, meanwhile, has tightened controls on rice exports, requiring registration with its Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. Bangladesh remains one of the largest buyers of Indian non‑basmati rice.