The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Saturday recommended in principle a proposal to procure Vitamin A capsules through the direct procurement method (DPM) from the United Nations Children’s Fund to ensure uninterrupted supply of the supplements across the country.

The recommendation came at the committee’s 15th meeting this year, held at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair.

According to officials, the proposal submitted by the Health Services Division sought policy approval for procuring Vitamin A capsules of 200,000 IU and 100,000 IU through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under the DPM system to maintain uninterrupted nationwide supply of the essential supplements.

The committee recommended the proposal for policy approval. In another decision, the committee also recommended policy approval for the post-facto appointment of the existing contractor under the direct procurement method for operating the New Mooring Container Terminal, including the overflow yard, under the Chittagong Port Authority.

The proposal, submitted by the Ministry of Shipping, said the agreement signed with Chittagong Dry Dock Limited had expired.

Under the proposal, the existing contractor will continue operating the terminal for the next six months or until a new contractor is appointed, whichever comes first, under the existing rates and conditions.