TIB report on TCB sales based on improper data: Minister

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday said a report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on the sale of subsidised products among one crore low-income families across the country was not prepared based on proper data.

He said TIB can publish reports on any issues, but that should be on proper data and information.

Tipu Munshi came up with the observation at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday to explain the ministry’s stance on the irregularities claimed in the TIB report on the distribution of subsidised goods through family cards by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

A TIB survey recently revealed that 39.5% of insolvent and poor families, who are eligible to get family cards to avail commodities at subsidised rates, were excluded from such benefits for political interference, mismanagement and corruption. 

“Following the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the products are being sold among the card-holding one crore families at designated dealer points across the country. The TCB products are sold with almost 100 percent subsidy,” said the commerce minister at the press conference.

Due to the use of QR codes, the products are sold in a short time, and there are no chances of purchasing products twice by an individual, he said, adding, “The cardholders can get products from dealers at their convenient time.”

“The lists of cardholders were prepared with assistance from the public representatives and local administrations. The card distribution has also been completed across the country and the cardholders now can purchase TCB products without hassles,” he said at the conference.  

Earlier, the products were sold through truck sale programmes in which a person had the option to get products a couple of times, the minister mentioned.

“But now the products are being sold among one crore families. Some 3,300 dealers across the country are selling the products. We are also working to increase the number of dealers,” said Munshi.

Senior Secretary to the ministry Tapan Kanti Ghos, TCB Chairman Brig Gen Md Ariful Hasan, and Director General of Consumer Rights Protection Department AHM Shafiquzzaman, among others, were present at the news conference.