In a strategic move ahead of the forthcoming national elections, the Government of Bangladesh has approved the direct purchase of 163 vehicles for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to bolster operational readiness and maintain law and order. The vehicles will be supplied by the state-owned Pragati Industries Limited.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Economic Affairs Advisory Committee held at the Secretariat on Tuesday, chaired by Economic Affairs Adviser Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed.
According to officials, the vehicle allocation includes:
3 Jeeps
100 Petrol Pickups
60 Air-Conditioned Microbuses
Originally, the acquisition was planned through an open tender process. However, considering the time-sensitive requirement to strengthen RAB’s operational capacity for election security, the government opted for the direct procurement route to expedite delivery.
Broader Procurement Approvals
Alongside the RAB vehicle acquisition, the committee approved several other key procurement initiatives for the fiscal year 2025–26:
| Item | Supplier | Quantity | Rate/Unit (USD) | Total Cost (BDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LNG Cargo (short-term) | Aramco Trading (Singapore) | 5 shipments | – | – |
| Bulk Granular Urea | Fertiglobe Distribution (UAE) | 40,000 MT | 410/MT | 201.23 crore |
| MOP Fertiliser | JSC Foreign Economic Corp (Russia) | 35,000 MT | 352.93/MT | 151.57 crore |
| Soybean Oil | Super Oil Refinery Ltd | 50 lakh L | 185.95/L | 92.96 crore (part) |
| Soybean Oil | Shabnam Vegetable Oil Ind. | 50 lakh L | 185.90/L | 92.96 crore (part) |
| Lentils (Masur Dal) | KBC Agro Pvt Ltd | 10,000 MT | 70.96/kg | 70.96 crore |
| Research Vessel & Speedboats | Khulna Shipyard Ltd | 1 small research vessel, 2 speedboats | – | 161.71 crore |
The committee also approved short-term LNG imports from Singapore-based Aramco Trading and additional fertiliser shipments under state contracts, including granular urea from the UAE and MOP fertiliser from Russia.
Furthermore, for public food security, TSCB will procure 1 crore litres of refined soybean oil and 10,000 metric tonnes of lentils through local open tenders, ensuring competitive pricing and supply chain stability.
For research and maritime operations, the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute in Cox’s Bazar will acquire a small research vessel and two speedboats via direct procurement from Khulna Shipyard Limited.
Officials emphasised that these measures are intended to enhance law enforcement capability, improve logistics for critical supplies, and strengthen scientific research infrastructure across the country, ensuring timely implementation of government programmes in the lead-up to the elections.
This procurement initiative underscores the government’s approach of strategic, time-sensitive direct purchases to meet operational and public service needs efficiently.