The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) started on Saturday selling of essential commodities in the capital ahead of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Several designated dealers of TCB were selling items like grams, edible oil, lentil, sugar etc. on trucks at different points.
The move by the state-owned entity is to keep the prices of essential commodities stable during the month of fasting.
Every year, the TCB sells essential commodities at subsidised rates to keep the prices stable and to help the limited income group of people purchase the commodities at an affordable rate.
On Saturday, the dealers were selling grams at Tk 60 per kg while sugar at Tk 47 per kg, red lentil at Tk 44 per kg and edible oil at Tk 85 per litre.
"I purchased some essential commodities including grams from a TCB dealer," said Md Abdur Rashid, a private service holder, while talking to the FE in Motijheel area.
He said the commodities of TCB have standard quality and their prices are comparatively lower compared with the retail market.
A dealer of TCB at Fakirapool said that they received good response from the consumers on the day. He expected a substantial number of consumers from today (Sunday).
The TCB is scheduled to sell dates from May 02.
Earlier, the TCB started truck-sale of soybean, lentil/ pulse and sugar across the country through its designated dealers.
A total of 35 designated TCB dealers are engaged to sell the essential commodities on trucks across the capital.
Meanwhile to fulfil the growing demand during Ramadan, the TCB has already stocked a substantial amount of commodities in its warehouses to ensure price stability and avert any possible disruption in supply chain in the market during Ramadan.
A consumer can purchase four kilograms of gram at a time at a rate of Tk 60 per kg. Date is fixed at Tk 135 per kg.
An individual can buy four kg of sugar, two kg of pulses and five litres of soybean at a time.
A high official of TCB warned of cancelling dealers' licenses if found his implication in sharp practice over commodity sales.
He said that they have been monitoring the dealers to prevent any sort of irregularity and mismanagement in selling goods until the last day of Ramadan.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com