The first consignment of wheat imported from the US under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement has arrived at the Kutubdia anchorage of Chattogram Port.
The vessel MV NORSE STRIDE reached the anchorage at 9:30am on Saturday, carrying about 56,950 tonnes of wheat from port of Kalama, Washington.
Sampling and quality testing of the wheat have already begun on board the ship. Once the quality assessment is complete, necessary procedures will be taken to begin unloading the cargo promptly.
According to the CEO of Seven Seas Shipping Line Md Ali Akbar, the logistics and shipping agent for the wheat import, 60 percent of the cargo will be unloaded at Kutubdia and Chattogram outer anchorages, while the remaining 40 percent will be transported to Mongla port.
Under the current agreement, a total of 440,000 tonnes of wheat will be brought to Bangladesh in four shipments in phases, Akbar said.
This shipment marks the first delivery following the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Dhaka on July 20 between Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Food and US Wheat Associates (USW) — the overseas marketing arm of the American wheat industry.
Md Abul Hasanath Humayun Kabir, director general of the Directorate General of Food, signed the MoU on behalf of Bangladesh, while Joe Sowers, regional vice president of USW for South and Southeast Asia, represented the US.
Under the five-year G2G arrangement, Bangladesh will import 700,000 tonnes of US wheat annually, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality wheat to the country while creating a stable export market for American wheat growers.
