Dhaka, Oct. 1 -- The government has signed off on a series of major contracts for Dhaka's metro rail network and approved a draft agreement for an international operator to run and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port for 15 years.

The decisions came at separate meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, according to two finance ministry statements issued on Thursday.

The purchase committee approved 19 procurement proposals, including several major construction and systems packages for MRT Line 1 and Line 5's Northern Route, along with purchases of fertiliser, contraceptives and electricity.

The economic affairs committee, meanwhile, approved the dra...