
In a strategic move to address the country’s growing energy needs, the Government has approved the import of one cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Singapore at an estimated cost of Tk 586.46 crore.
The decision was made by the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP), which convened on Tuesday at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
The LNG will be procured from Singapore-based Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd, selected as the lowest bidder following an international competitive quotation process conducted in line with the Public Procurement Rules 2008.
The gas will be imported from the spot market at a rate of $12.2280 per MMBtu, totaling 3.36 million MMBtu in the shipment.
According to officials, Petrobangla had invited bids from 23 prequalified companies under a Master Sale and Purchase Agreement (MSPA). Of the seven firms that submitted proposals, all were found to be technically and financially responsive.
Gunvor emerged as the lowest evaluated bidder upon completion of the evaluation process by the Proposal Evaluation Committee (PEC).
The Cabinet Committee also approved a separate procurement proposal for the Bangladesh Election Commission. Under the second phase of the “Identification System for Enhancing Services (IDEA)” project, the commission will procure blank smart cards worth Tk 406.49 crore through a direct purchase from Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF), a military-run state enterprise.
This procurement follows the delegated purchasing authority procedures and is aimed at enhancing citizen identification services ahead of upcoming national elections.
The dual approvals—LNG import and smart card procurement—underscore the government’s ongoing efforts to stabilise energy supply and modernise essential public services during a politically sensitive transition period.