The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given policy approval to proposals for the government to directly purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from four international suppliers to meet the country's energy demand.

The committee also approved, in principle, proposals to shorten the tender submission period for procuring 6,200 tonnes of dates for Ramadan 2027 and to establish mobile network coverage at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday (November 12).

At the meeting, the committee recommended in-principle approval for direct LNG purchases from Japan's JERA Global Markets Pte. Ltd. (JERAGM) under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act 2006 and Rule 99(2) of the Public Procurement Rules 2025.

The proposal also includes signing the final structure and term sheet of a short-term LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between Petrobangla and JERAGM.

Under the same legal provisions, the committee also recommended in-principle approval for direct LNG purchases from ADNOC Trading Limited of the United Arab Emirates.

In addition, it recommended direct LNG purchases from Ojimadu & Maritess Oil Marketing Nigeria Limited and Uzzie James Beehive.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division presented the three LNG procurement proposals at the meeting.

In another decision, the committee recommended in-principle approval for reducing the time allowed for preparing and submitting tenders to procure 6,200 metric tonnes of dates through an international open tender for Ramadan 2027.

Citing the urgent needs of the state, the Ministry of Commerce presented the proposal under Rule 102(1)(a) of the Public Procurement Rules 2025.

The committee also granted in-principle approval for establishing mobile network coverage at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport through the direct procurement method under a project titled “Installation of Mobile Network at the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport”.

The Posts and Telecommunications Division presented the proposal.