Sunday, May 05, 2024
The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) on Sunday started selling essential items, including rice, for the first time, at subsidised prices among family cardholders across the country.
In the presence of Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder inaugurated the programme at Ward 1 of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), read a press release.
As per the programme, the TCB will now sell 5kg rice at Tk 30 per kg, two litres of soybean oil at Tk 100 per litre, 1kg sugar at Tk 70 per kg and 2kg lentil at Tk 60 per kg among one crore TCB family cardholders.
The TCB dealers will sell the essentials among the cardholder families at a specific time and date.
Speaking on the occasion, the food minister said the distribution of rice through TCB is the brainchild of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She thought that people will be benefited if rice is given with other essential commodities like oil, pulses and sugar from TCB, Sadhan said, adding, "Selling rice with other essentials through TCB from today [Sunday] has transformed Bangabandhu's daughter's thoughts into reality."
He said apart from selling commodities through TCB, the government is also continuing its other food programmes, including open market sale (OMS) and special food assistance for fishermen.
Speaking on the occasion, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said at the directive of the prime minister, rice is being given along with other daily commodities so that the public can benefit.
Providing rice to one crore families at subsidised price through TCB actually benefits five crore people directly, he said, calling upon the mass media to play a role in the smooth implementation of TCB activities.
Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh and Food Secretary Md Ismiel Hossain were present on the occasion, among others.
