TCB begins selling essential commodities at subsidised rate

The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) began selling essential commodities at subsidised prices on Thursday for the month of September.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi formally inaugurated the operation at Indira Road Krira Chaktra Math (T and T Math), near Khamar Bari Farmgate around 10 am.

One crore cardholder families will be able to buy lentils, edible oil and rice at a subsidised rate across the country, he said.

Beneficiaries will get these items from their designated distributors in their respective areas, said the commerce minister.

Each cardholder is eligible to buy two litres of soybean oil, two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of sugar, and five kilograms of rice.

The Directorate General of Food began selling subsidised rice last month, with each family purchasing a maximum of 5 kilograms of rice.

While inaugurating the operation, Munshi said that the prices of eggs and onions have gone up without any reasonable cause in the country.

He said the commodity items will have to be sold at fair prices otherwise the government will take stern legal action against the profit mongers.

The prices of many commodities have increased in the global market due to various reasons particularly, import-dependent oil and pulse.

“We have to import these items due to insufficient production in the country. We have to import 90 percent edible oil and 99 percent sugar. Apart from these, we have to import pulses. The prices of these items have increased in the global market, creating an adverse impact in our country,” he said.

Taking the hardship of the common people under consideration, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has undertaken a step to distribute food products among one crore people at the subsidised rate, he said.

“We are working consistently and we will do so in the future," said the commerce minister.