The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) usually starts its sale of selected kitchen essentials at subsidised prices from the beginning of a month. However, this has not been the case this January, even though nearly half of the month has already passed.
TCB sources however say the sales activities of this month may start on January 16. For this purpose, the products will be sent to the district level from Sunday, said TCB Chairman Brigadier General Md Ariful Hassan.
Providing further details, he said, “There is no shortage in our stock of products, there is enough. Due to the national polls, the products could not be forwarded to the district level as everyone was busy. This is why there is a delay in TCB sales.
“We are optimistic that the TCB sale of goods will begin this week. We are trying to start on January 16. For the time being, only the products sold last month will be available initially.”
Meanwhile, TCB officials say there has been no meeting as yet with the food ministry in regards to distributing rice this month, which is also a reason for the delay.
According to TCB sources, the government sells products at subsidised prices to one crore family card holders every month. Around five to six products including rice, lentil, edible oil, sugar, onion, potato are sold across the country through enlisted dealers.
However, the TCB regularly sells three products – edible oil, lentil and rice, while the rest are sold subject to availability or abnormal market price increases.
The sale of products including oil, pulses, rice, onions and potatoes started from December 6 last year.
In the month of December, a customer with a TCB card – located outside the capital city of Dhaka – was able to buy a maximum of two litres of soybean oil or rice bran oil, five kg of rice, and two kg of lentils.
TCB sold two kg of onions and one kg of sugar along with oil, rice and lentil to the card holders of the capital. The price of soybean oil per liter was at Tk 100, rice at Tk 30 per kg, lentils at Tk 60 and imported onions at Tk 50 and sugar at Tk 70 per kg subject to availability.
Humayun Kabir, head of TCB regional office in Dhaka, said, “We will begin sending products to the district level from Sunday. There is a meeting with the food ministry next Monday regarding the distribution of rice.
“Following the meeting, it can finally be confirmed when the sale of products will begin. But our truck sale will continue.”
