"The local factories failed to produce fertiliser as per capacity and a huge production deficit is looming this year due to disruption of gas and power supplies," said Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Adviser Justice Fazlul Haque, also chairman of the cabinet committee on purchase that took the decision.

The adviser said the decision was taken so that the farmers do not face fertiliser crisis in the upcoming Boro season.

The cabinet purchase committee also approved a total of Tk 517 crore for six different projects, of which Tk 463 crore is for fertiliser import.

Meeting sources said this time the government will have to spend US$60 more to import each ton of fertiliser.

The price of a ton of fertiliser was $267 during January-February period of 2006 while the government will now have to spend $327 for per ton at the current rate.

The allocations of Tk 47 crore for import of 25,000 metric tons of wheat and another Tk 7 crore for recruitment of consultants in Bangladesh Water Supply Programme were also approved at the meeting.