Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday neatly sidestepped a question of adjusting fuel oil price in the domestic market following its price slump globally.
"There is a line ministry to look after it. The prime minister herself will decide on it in time," he said replying to reporters during a virtual briefing.
Earlier, the minister chaired two cabinet meetings.
Asked whether he should adjust price of the commodity as a finance minister for the sake of economy, Mr Kamal said, "Price increase and price cut is not my task."
"As a finance minister, I have many other things to do," added the businessmen-turned-minister.
Crude oil price was hovering $42.51 per barrel on Wednesday in the international market compared to around $53 per barrel in mid-August last year.
As the Covid-19 pandemic hit the global economy, crude oil price fell as low as $14 globally on April 20.
Despite the oil price crash, Bangladesh did not lower the price of the commodity in the domestic market despite repeated calls from the business community.
The cabinet committee on government purchase on the day approved the import of 150,000-tonne low sulphur marine oil under the government-to-government (G-to-G) arrangement.
The procurement will cost the exchequer Tk 4.38 billion.
Mr Kamal said Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation usually imports 50-per cent fuel oil under G-to-G arrangement and 50 per cent through international tender.
But the fuel oil price is presently low in the global market, he said, adding that importing oil on a G-to-G basis will save a good amount of public money.
"So, we approved buying the entire 150,000 tonnes under the G-to-G arrangement," mentioned Mr Kamal.
The meeting also approved a proposal on printing, binding and supply of books for free distribution among the students of grades three, four and five.
Some 98 domestic companies out of 1,020 responsive local and international bidders secured the task worth Tk 1.32 billion.
Earlier, the cabinet committee on economic affairs approved construction of a bridge over Meghna river across Bhulta-Araihajar-Bancharampur road under the public-private partnership initiative.
It also approved collection of 17 tugboats by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority under a direct purchase method from the Dockyard and Engineering Works, a concern of Bangladesh Navy.
syful-islam@outlook.com