The interim government on Tuesday backtracked on the direct purchase method to transform the Ganabhaban into a July uprising memorial museum.
The Ganabhaban served as the official residence of the prime minister until the ouster of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The government will now select contactors through open tenders to carry out the Ganabhaban transformation task to preserve and exhibit memories of the July uprising which toppled the authoritarian AL regime.
On Tuesday, the advisory council committee on economic affairs at a meeting approved two proposals from the Public Works Department for the selection of contractors through open tenders.
Earlier on July 15, the Public Works Department had got approvals from the advisory council committee on economic affairs to select contractors through the direct purchase method.
That government move was criticised by many organisations, including the Transparency International Bangladesh, an anti-graft watchdog.
Finance adviser Salehuddiun Ahmed, who is now on a Japan tour, presided over Tuesday鈥檚 meeting virtually.
The committee also approved two other proposals seeking direct purchase method.
One is from the Health Services Division to procure geneXpert cartridges directly for the identification of tuberculosis patients until June 2026 and the other from the Information Communication and Technology Division to provide citizens services in districts.
The advisory council committee on government purchase at a separate meeting on the same day approved the procurement of 1.45 lakh tonnes of fertiliser, one cargo of liquefied natural gas, 20,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid and books for students of Ebtedayee Madrassahs.
The fertiliser will be purchased from Saudi Arabia, Russia, Morocco, China and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company of Bangladesh under state-to-state negotiations at the cost of about Tk 1,100 crore.
M/S Sun International will supply 20,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid to a state-owned fertiliser company at Tk聽191 crorte after outsourcing those from South Africa.
A total of 48 bidders will supply about 2.94 crore books at Tk 127 crore under a proposal from the primary and mass education ministry for the students of Class I to Class V at Ebtedayee Madrassahs.
M/S Total Energies Gas and Power Limited of the United Kingdom will supply one cargo of LNG at Tk 485 crore under a proposal from Petrobangla to secure import of the 45th cargo in the current calendar year.
