Supply woes push back TCB sales to Oct 16

Although a third of the month has passed already, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is yet to start the sale of goods at subsidised prices for the running month due to supply problems.

The sale of affordable products by TCB in September has not been completed even after the extension of six days. As a result, sales for October are also lagging. Although the initial decision was to start selling the products on October 11, it got pushed back to October 16.

“Due to supply problems, we have not yet completed the distribution of last month’s products. Last month’s sale will continue till October 13, after which the current month’s sale will start,” TCB Chairman Brigadier General Md Ariful Hassan told The Business Post.

“We have instructed the District Administrators accordingly. A notification will be issued within a few days,” he added. Explaining the supply issues, the TCB chief said that the companies tendered to supply sugar and pulses do not have enough capacity to supply packaged commodities, which is why the problem arose.

“Hopefully the problem will be solved this month. If needed, we will take some products in 50 kg sacks without packets,” he said, adding that TCB will try its best to distribute packaged products as it benefits everyone.

TCB started selling 4-6 types of products including oil, sugar, pulses and onions to one crore families across the country at a subsidised rate in March this year. Distribution of the commodities starts on the first week of each month and comes to a close at the end of the month. After the formal inauguration by Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, distribution of the products started nationwide.

However, the smooth process faltered during September. Even as the month came to a close, TCB could not complete the distribution of the commodities. TCB extended the time for distribution twice already.

This correspondent found that by Monday, the distribution of products in many wards or unions has not been completed yet. However, there was no immediate estimate of the quantity of commodities left to be distributed.

Currently, TCB is selling each 2-litre bottle of edible oil at Tk 110 per litre, 2 kg of pulses at Tk 65 per kg, and 1 kg of sugar at Tk 55 per kg. The current market price for bottled oil is Tk 192 per litre, sugar Tk 95 per kg and pulses Tk 105 per kg.