The government has approved the purchase of two bulk carrier vessels, each with a capacity of 55,000–66,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT), from US-based Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC at a cost of Tk 935.71 crore.
The approval came on Tuesday at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Government Procurement at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
Meeting sources said the purchase falls under the project titled “Acquisition of 2 bulk carrier vessels of 55,000–66,000 DWT each.”
A one-stage, two-envelope tender process was used to invite bids for supplying the vessels along with related services.
Three firms submitted proposals, of which two were found technically responsive. Following evaluation and the recommendation of the Tender Evaluation Committee, the responsive lowest bidder, Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC, was selected to supply the vessels for $76.698 million, equivalent to Tk 935.71 crore.
The state-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation will finance the purchase entirely from its own resources. Officials said the acquisition will enhance the country’s maritime trade capacity and reduce dependence on chartered vessels.
The meeting also approved three other major procurement proposals.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education received clearance for a Tk 200.92 crore proposal to print, bind, and supply 96 of the 98 planned lots of textbooks for classes 1, 2, and 3 for the 2026 academic year.
Two proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division were also approved, allowing Petrobangla to procure two cargos of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the spot market through an international quotation process under the Public Procurement Rules, 2008.
The first cargo, valued at approximately Tk 502.94 crore with LNG priced at $11.97 per MMBtu, will be supplied by M/S Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore. The second cargo, costing around Tk 484.38 crore with LNG priced at $11.90 per MMBtu, will be procured from M/S PetroChina International Pte Ltd, Singapore. Officials said these imports are essential for meeting peak energy demand and ensuring energy security.
In a separate session, the 25th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Economic Affairs reviewed a Ministry of Shipping proposal to carry out the remaining works of the World Bank-funded “Bangladesh Regional Inland Water Transport Project-1” — involving dredging the Chattogram–Dhaka–Ashuganj and connected waterways, and constructing terminals and associated facilities — through direct procurement under its second revised plan. The proposal was later withdrawn at the ministry’s request.