The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started selling essential items to family cardholders across the country at a subsidized rate.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi formally inaugurated the programme in Dhaka's Mohammadpur on Tuesday morning.
Some one-crore families across the country having cards would be able to buy such essential items in phases.
Each of the cardholders will be able to buy one kilogram of sugar at Tk 55, two kilograms of lentils at Tk 65 per kilogram and two litres of soybean oil at Tk 110 per litre.
Tipu Munshi said if there any irregularity and manipulation are found in the sale of TCB products, strict action will be taken against those responsible.
Talking to the media, Commerce Ministry’s Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh on Monday said that the selling of TCB products across the country this time would start today and will continue till August 14.
“Some one crore people this time will be able to buy TCB products and hopefully there will be no disruption,” he added.
TCB officials said the consumers would be able to buy TCB products from the selected distributors across the country, but selling of such products will not begin at the same date.
The TCB would start distributing the essential items after preparing the lists of the distributors with the support of the concerned city corporation, district and upazila administration.
The TCB officials said the corporation would not sell essential items this time through trucks but rather from the shops of the distributors or from their designated places through family cards.
“TCB normally sale products covering almost 30-40 lakhs people, but this year we have started the programme with a target to reach at least one crore families at the grass route level,” said TCB Chairman Brigadier General M Ariful Hasan.
