TCB to start selling essentials at subsidised rate from 9 March

Keeping the upcoming Ramadan in mind, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh is set to start selling food items at a subsidised rate on Thursday. 

The food will be provided to one crore low-income families in Dhaka and the distribution will be done in two phases, reads a press release.

People will be able to buy five types of groceries at dealer shops and other designated permanent infrastructures by showing their family cards.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi is expected to inaugurate the programme.

Under this facility, one crore TCB cardholders will be able to buy sugar for Tk60 per kg, lentils for Tk70 per kg, soybean oil for Tk110 per kg, chickpeas for Tk50 per kg, and dates for Tk100 per kg.

On the other hand, the price of sugar is Tk120-125, lentils Tk120-140, dates Tk250-300, one litre soybean oil Tk185, and chickpeas Tk80-90 at retail markets in the capital city.

TCB cardholders can buy one kg of sugar, two kg of lentils, two litres of soybean oil, one kg of chickpeas, and one kg of dates. However, card holders living in Dhaka only will get dates.

According to a source at TCB, due to the dollar crisis, the country imports less amount of dates this year, creating a supply shortage of the product. That is why the price of this Ramadan essential is high in the local market.

Due to poor import, TCB could not collect the required quantity of dates to sell all over the country at a subsidised rate. That is why it will sell dates only in Dhaka city.

TCB Regional Office Joint Director Md Humayun Kabir said, "Centering Ramadan, we will sell essentials at subsidised prices among one crore low-income beneficiary families in two phases. The first phase sale will start Thursday."

Designated shops or dealers, in collaboration with the city corporation; district, and upazila administrations, will conduct the OMS sale programme at a scheduled date and time.