The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has sought logistic support to carry out countrywide open market sale (OMS) of essential commodities through trucks ahead of Ramada, officials said.
It has taken a work plan prepared by commerce ministry to stock, collect and distribute essentials to keep prices stable in the market during the fasting month.
As per the work plan, the state entity will supply commodities like onion, edible oil, sugar, lentils, date and gram from April 01 to May 20.
There are eight regional TCB offices-Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barisal, Moulvibazar and Mymensingh. Besides, there are four camp offices.
Meanwhile, the government has moved to procure a large quantity of consumables ahead of Ramadan to avert any possible crisis during the fasting month.
It will purchase 0.121 million tonnes of different essential items, including edible oil, onion, sugar, gram, date and lentil before Ramadan.
A ministry official said, "We've initiated to ensure an adequate supply of commodities and keep their prices stable during the month of Ramadan."
Recently, an intelligence agency has sounded the alarm over a possible hike in the prices of essential commodities during the period.
"It will be tough to control the kitchen market this Ramadan if the government doesn't rein in the prices of commodities," according to an intelligence report.
The report suggested that state agencies concerned take urgent measures to cool down the heated market.
TCB chairman Brig Gen Md Hasan Jahangir sent a letter to commerce ministry on March 03 in this connection.
He requested the secretary to instruct law-enforcement agencies concerned to ensure overall security for transporting TCB trucks and its sales activities.
Ahead of Ramadan, TCB will start selling essentials at subsidised rates across the country.
Some 2,827 dealers are listed with TCB nationwide.
The state agency works towards keeping prices of essential commodities stable and supplying them at affordable prices to consumers.
