TCB starts selling goods at subsidised prices

The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) started selling four daily essentials to one crore families from the lower income group from Tuesday.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi formally inaugurated the operations of the programme at a TCB dealer shop in the city, said a press release.

One crore families across the country having TCB family cards issued by local public representatives would be able to buy the essential items — soybean oil, lentil, sugar and onion — in phases.

The TCB programme allows a cardholder to buy at a time two litres of soybean oil at Tk 110 per litre, two KGs of lentil at Tk 65 per KG, one KG of sugar at Tk 55 and two KGs of onion at Tk 20 per KG.

However, onion is being sold only at city corporation areas and in districts having regional TCB offices.

In his speech, Tipu said the government will continue the sale of TCB products at subsidised prices among the one crore families across the country.

In the mourning month of August, TCB has started selling sugar, lentil, soybean oil and onion in fixed quantities at fixed prices.

The TCB will not sale the essential items this time through trucks, rather from the shop of TCB dealers, or from its designated places, he added.

He said strict measures are being taken against any kind of irregularity in the sale of TCB products.

Commerce Ministry’s Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, TCB Chairman Brigadier General Md Ariful Hasan and Additional Secretary to the Commerce Ministry Ali Ahad Khan, among others, were present on the occasion.

Mentionable, the TCB began selling daily necessities at subsidised prices against family cards from June 22 last, ending its truck sale programme.