Bangladesh Army-run Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Limited (BMTF) will supply 3 crore blank smart cards to Bangladesh Election Commission (EC). Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in a meeting on Tuesday approved the proposal along with some others from different ministries. Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting. As per the proposal, the BMTF will supply the smart cards under the Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services (2nd Phase) project of the Arms Forces Division of the Prime Minister's Office at contract value of Tk 406.50 crore.        Under other proposals, approved  by the CCGP, state marketing agency Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will import 12,500 metric tons (MT) of sugar and 1.10 crore litres of soybean oil for its ongoing programme to sell those in open market. Each kg of sugar will cost Tk 82.92 while the soybean oil will cost Tk 146.10 per litre Of these, Smart Matrix Pte., Ltd., Singapore (Local Agent: Mark Line Enterprise, Dhaka) will supply 12,500 MT of sugar at Tk 66.79 crore while the Guven Traders Ptv. Ltd., India (Local Agent: HH Enterprise, Dhaka) will supply 1.10 crore of soybean oil at Tk 148.30 crore. Supplier Smart Matrix Pte., Ltd., Singapore was selected for sugar supply through an international bidding process while the Guven Traders Ptv. Ltd., India, was chosen by the TCB through direct procurement method without any bidding process. The Cabinet body approved a number of proposals of the Roads and Highway Department (RHD) under the Roads Transport and Highway Division to award contracts for road constructions. Of these, the Joint Venture of (1) SRBG, China; and (2) and BTC, Bangladesh won a contract of the Lot No- DS-7 under Package No- WP-04 of the Project "Sasec Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development" at Tk 947.74  crore. The Joint Venture of (1) CSCEC7, China; and (2) Spectra Engineers Ltd., Bangladesh won the contract of the Lot No. DS-8 under Package No- WP-04 of the project “Sasec Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development” at Tk.1, 178.68 crore. The RHD selected Taher Brothers Ltd. to award the contract for “Upgradation of Gouripur-Anandganj-Madhupur-Dewanganj Bazar-Hosenpur District Highway to the proper standard” at a value of Tk 131. 47 crore. The RHD selected Joint Venture of (1) Mozahar Enterprise Pvt. Ltd., (2) National Development Engineers Ltd., and (3) Sagar Info Builders Ltd. for Package No. PW-01 of "Sherpur (Kanasakhola)-Bhimganj-Narayankhola-Rambhadrapur-Mymensingh (Rahmatpur) Road Development '' Project at Tk 149.99 crore. The Joint Venture of (1) National Development Engineers Ltd. , and (2) Hasan Techno Builders Ltd., has been selected by the RHD for the package No. PW-02 of the "Sherpur (Kanasakhola)-Bhimganj-Narayankhola-Rambhadrapur-Mymensingh (Rahmatpur) Road Development" at a contract value of Tk 180 crore. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at a meeting approved in principle a proposal of the Directorate General of Health Services to procure Firstline TB Drugs, Medical and Surgical Supplies and Laboratory Equipment from the Essential Drugs Company Limited through Direct Purchase Method (DPM) without bidding process. The drugs, services and equipment will be procured for the "Health and Gender Support in Cox's Bazar District (2nd Revised)"project under the United Nations Office for Project Services.    

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase (CCPP) in a meeting on Thursday approved a total of eight procurement proposals including construction of 10-km bi-level road in Munshiganj. Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting while members of the committee attended it. While briefing reporters on the outcomes of the meeting Additional secretary of the Cabinet Division Shamsul Arefin said the committee has approved a proposal of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) to award a contract for construction of the bi-road from Narayanganj's Panchabati to Munshiganj's Muktarpur Bridge. Chinese joint-venture of (1) Shandong Iuqiao Group Co. Ltd and (2) China Shandong International Economic and Technical Cooperation group Ltd., obtained the project at a cost of Tk 1206.06 crore. The widening of the existing road over which the bi-level will be built was also included in the project. He said the bi-level road is not a new one in Bangladesh as the existing Dhaka Elevated Expressway is a similar kind of project. He said that toll-plaza and other facilities are also included in the project. Another Chinese firm - Joint Venture of (1) National Development Engineers Ltd and (2) China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd obtained a contract  for construction of new diagnostic imaging centres at medical colleges in 7 divisions at Tk 401.78 crore. Two proposals of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) received the clearance of the cabinet body to award contracts for supplying suction dredgers. Of these, the BIWTA will procure two 24-inch cutter suction dredgers and associated equipment from Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd at a cost of Tk 212.63 crore while it will procure two similar kinds of dredgers and associated equipment from  Karnafuly Shipbuilders Ltd at Tk 213.61 crore. The Cabinet body approved a proposal of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to import 30,000 metric tons of phosphoric acid at a cost of Tk 231.68 crore. Two proposals of the Bangladesh Computer Council under the ICT Division received nod for raising costs of its two projects for construction of computer infrastructure at 2600 unions across the country. For this, Tk 42.83 crore will be raised for a project being implemented at 1293 unions while Tk 32,96 crore for another projects covering 1307 unions.  

The maximum punishment for involvement in leaking the question paper of any PSC examination will be 10 years’ jail or financial penalty or both, according to a draft law approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. The Cabinet approved in principle the draft of Bangladesh Public Service Commission Act, 2021 in a meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The Prime Minister joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other Cabinet members from the Bangladesh Secretariat. Read: 8 projects get go-ahead of Cabinet Purchase Committee “According to article 8 of the draft law, those who are involved in leaking the question paper of any examination to be held under the Public Service Commission (PSC) they might face the highest 10 years' jail, financial punishment or both. A tough stance has been taken against question paper leak,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam. He said the draft law was placed in the meeting to replace the Bangladesh Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977 in line with a judgment of the High Court over the laws of military regimes. The maximum punishment for adopting unfair means in examination and engagement in answer sheet forgery would be two years’ jail or financial penalty or both, he said, adding that such crimes could also be punished by the mobile court. The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of the Zakat Fund Management Act, 2021 in order to motivate people to provide Zakat to the government fund, using the latest information technology, he said. People can provide their Zakat to the government’s Zakat Fund through any scheduled bank, said the Cabinet Secretary, adding that the proposed law was brought modifying the Zakat Fund Ordinance, 1982. Read: Cabinet purchase body clears procurement of huge wheat, fertiliser Besides, the meeting approved in principle the draft of Chattogram Shahi Jame Mosque Act, 2021 for the maintenance of the property of the mosque. “If anyone engages in irregularities over the property and incomes of the mosques would face the highest two years in jail or financial penalty or both,” said Khandker Anwarul Islam, adding that the mosque has very valuable lands of 2.43 acres in Chattogram. The draft law will replace the Chittagong Shahi Masjid Ordinance, 1986, he said. Besides, the Cabinet discussed the recent e-commerce scams and decided to bring all e-commerce companies under the registration and monitoring system. Registration of e-commerce firms The five-member committee, recently formed headed by an additional secretary of the commerce ministry, will place its report over e-commerce frauds within the next 20 days, said the Cabinet Secretary. Read:Quick energy supply: Cabinet approves 5-yr extension of special provision “Today, a decision was taken that all of those who are engaged in such business will have to be monitored by bringing them under the registration system,” he said. The Cabinet also stressed the need for raising public awareness over any possible e-commerce fraud and abnormal offers of e-commerce companies, he said. At the meeting, the Prime Minister unveiled the cover of a book titled “Bangabandhur Roktorin” (Bangabandhu’s Blood Debt), published with the initiative of the Local Government Division, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved four proposals, including the procurement of 30,000 metric tons (MT) of bagged granular urea fertiliser from Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (Kafco) at a cost of Tk 90.72 crore.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved the import of 250,000 metric tonnes of rice from India and international suppliers.

Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday in a meeting approved a proposal of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to procure 50,000 metric tons (mts) of urea fertiliser from local Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (Kafco) to export it to neighboring Nepal.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Thursday approved five proposals including the import of fertiliser and procurement of overhead power cables for rural electrification. 

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase has approved 4 procurement proposals of Tk 428.98 crore including a contract awarding for Dhaka WASA’s network improvement project.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved seven procurement proposals worth of Tk 474.12 crore including 80,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer at Tk 174.09 crore.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved 10 procurement proposals including one to import of 3.490 million British thermal unit (mmbtu) of liquified natural gas (LNG) from international open spot market.