Steps taken to check irregularities in TCB sale

The government has taken steps to check irregularities in the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s (TCB) commodity sale at subsidised prices for the month of October, said Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh.

The commerce ministry has sent 40 officials of the deputy secretary level to 64 districts, said the senior secretary while inaugurating the sales program for October at Lalmatia Housing Society School in the capital on Monday. Senior Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Tofazzal Hossain Mia was also present on the occasion.

Secretary Tapan said, “They [officials] will collect some samples. We are taking a measure of verification through that.

“Attempts will be made to determine the percentage of errors in the selections, if any. I will investigate any complaints made and take action [in that regard].”

Meanwhile, Md Tofazzal Hossain Mia said buyers can buy products using quick response (QR) code cards.

“The distribution programme started today across the country and will be completed within the next 10 days. This facility will be given to one crore families every month,” he said.

TCB is selling four items– sugar, lentils, soybean oil, onion– at subsidised prices among one crore families with QR code enabled ration cards provided by the organisation. The sale, which usually begins at the start of the month, was delayed for October due to supply issues and is yet to be resolved completely.

Under the programme, a cardholder can buy a maximum of two litres of soybean oil, two kg of lentils, one kg of sugar and two kg of onions from TCB appointed dealers’ shops or designated sale points. However, onions were not available at the sale points or dealers’ shops due to supply issues.

Soybean oil is being sold at Tk 110 per litre, sugar at Tk 55 per kg, lentils at Tk 65, and onion, when available, will be sold at Tk 20 per kg.