The government has decided to import a total of 37.5 million litres of soybean oil from Malaysia, the United States and Nigeria at a cost of Tk 4,745.55 million.

The approval came at a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, held on Tuesday.

According to meeting sources, the Ministry of Commerce placed three separate proposals for importing soybean oil under the international direct purchase method.

Under one proposal, the government will procure 5 million litres of soybean oil from Malaysia-based C Millennium Trade (M) Sdn Bhd. The purchase will cost Tk 660.42 million, with the per-litre price set at Tk 132.084.

In another proposal, 12.5 million litres of soybean oil will be imported from US-based Stewart Klobanu Gerhard at a cost of Tk 1,658.69 million. The per-litre price in this case stands at Tk 132.69.

The third proposal involves the import of 20 million litres of soybean oil from Nigeria’s Vidok Farms and Export Limited. This purchase will cost Tk 2,426.43 million, with the per-litre price fixed at Tk 121.32.

Besides soybean oil, the committee also approved proposals for importing rice, rice bran oil, lentils and several types of fertiliser at the same meeting.