The government is set to import 20,000 tonnes of lentils and 1.20 crore litres of rice-bran oil at a cost of Tk 201.59 crore and Tk 189.60 crore, respectively. These food items will be distributed at subsidized rates under the Open Market Sale initiative and among approximately one crore family cardholders.
The total plan for the fiscal year 2023-24 includes importing 2.88 lakh tonnes of lentils and 28.80 lakh litres of rice-bran oil. In the meeting presided over by the Finance Minister, purchases worth Tk 2,305 crore were approved, with Tk 1,141 crore to be arranged through borrowing. Additionally, Bangladesh will import 33.60 lakh MMbtus of liquefied natural gas and 2.60 lakh tonnes of fertilizers at a cost of Tk 470.48 crore and Tk 1,038 crore, respectively.