The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday (Feb 10) approved a proposal in principle for following the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) for holding drone show, aerial show and fireworks show to celebrate the golden jubilee of country’s independence in a befitting manner on Mar 26 this year.
The approval came from the 5th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of this year held virtually with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair, local media reported.
Briefing reporters after the meeting virtually, Kamal said that the government wants to observe the golden jubilee of country’s independence in a colorful and befitting manner and with festivity in association with the country’s people.
For this, the finance minister said the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will hold drone show, aerial show and fireworks show as well as highlight the various achievements of the country over the years.
“These shows will be held to inform our countrymen about our achievements through creating a nice environment. We hope people irrespective of their age will enjoy these shows,” he added.
Subject to the necessary amendments to the Public Procurement Rules, the meeting approved in principle a proposal from the Ministry of Food for reducing the timeframe of procurement process to import rice and wheat through international open tendering method for emergency state purpose.
Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, while briefing virtually, said the meeting also approved in principle a proposal for procuring one lakh metric tons of non-basmati boiled rice from National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) through DPM method in line with Section 68(1) of the PPA 2006 and Section 76(2) of the PPR 2008 on emergency state purposes.
The finance minister said the government would procure this rice from India, but under the existing rules and law, it is not possible to import rice from international market in a short time without tender.
For this, he said, the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) has been asked to make necessary amendments to the PPR and PPA related to its timeframe.
Kamal said after floating tender, there is a need to wait usually for 40 to 42 days to import goods from international market, but price of essential and consumer items like onion, rice and edible oil witness ups and downs every now and then in international market while the price of those also often remain volatile.
As a result, he said, the tenderers do not want to wait for a long time and tend to show less response.
Under the circumstances, the finance minister said, the government wants to import that rice within the shortest possible time through opening LCs and ensuring all necessary arrangements for which the amendments would be brought to the PPR.
Replying to a question, Kamal said that he took Covid-19 vaccine yesterday and since then he did not experience any side effect of it.
“Please all of you do take Covid-19 vaccines... vaccines should be taken by everybody especially for those who are eligible,” he added.
