The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started selling essential commodities for the month of September among some 10 million TCB cardholder low-income families.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh formally inaugurated the programme in the capital on Sunday, reports BSS.
Commerce Ministry additional secretary AKM Ali Ahad Khan, TCB Chairman Brig Gen Md Ariful Hasan, 24 No. ward councillor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Shafiullah Shafi were present, among others, on the occasion.
After the formal inauguration of such selling operations, Tapan said that some 50 million people are being benefitted through TCB as its products are being sold every month.
He said that the government needs to provide Tk 5,200 crore subsidy every year for selling TCB items once to its consumers every month.
The secretary said that considering all aspects and the capacity of the state-run corporation, the government is considering the matter with importance to provide TCB items twice to its consumers every month.
Every TCB card holder consumer can now avail 2 litres of soybean oil, 2 kgs of lentil and 1 kg sugar under a package with only Tk 405.
Such month-long operation is being conducted through some 300 dealers in the capital and also some 3,500 dealers across the country.
According to TCB, the onion will be sold in metropolitan areas subject to its availability from abroad. Besides, the TCB is selling soybean oil at Tk 110 per litre, lentils at Tk 65 per litre and sugar at Tk 55 per kg.