, Dec. 23 -- The government has approved several proposals including imports of rice, edible oil and lentils to strengthen food security and stabilise prices ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

The approvals were given at a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase, on Tuesday at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at the Secretariat with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed presiding.

The meeting recommended two proposals from the Ministry of Food to procure a total of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice.

Of this, 50,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice will be imported from India through the international open tender method at an estimated cost of Tk 217.53 crore while another 50,000 metric tonnes of white...