June 4, 2007

Bangladesh to buy 212,000 tonnes of wheat via tender

Bangladesh will import 212,000 tonnes of wheat by early September through a tender issued Saturday to stabilise food prices during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, food officials said.

The tender will close on July 17, with validity up to August 6 and should be delivered within 30 days from the date of signing of the contract. According to the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, demand for wheat goes up during Ramadan, which will begin in early September in the predominantly Muslim country.

The wheat will be supplied either at Chittagong or Mongla port and delivery is ensured before Ramadan starts, food ministry officials said.

Agriculture officials say Bangladesh produced nearly 750,000 tonnes of wheat in the financial year to June. The nation's annual wheat demand is 3.3 million tonnes and covers the shortfall through government and private sector imports and foreign grants. Bangladesh scrapped a 5 percent import duty on rice and wheat in March to keep prices stable.