TCB to sell 6 essential items to 1cr families from March 10

State-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has taken an initiative to sell six essential items to some one crore low-income group families ahead of the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan. As part of this, the TCB would start selling three essential items - edible oil, sugar, and lentil -- among such families from March 10 while it will start selling chickpeas from the first of Ramadan.

These essential items would be sold even at the union level apart from the capital, other divisional cities and district towns. The TCB will sell dates and onion only in the capital, although edible oil, lentil, sugar and chickpeas will be sold across the country.

Talking to media, Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman said that the government wants to reach essential items to some 1 crore low income group families at affordable prices.

For this, he said the essential items will be sold in two phases. In the first phase, edible oil, sugar and lentil will be sold from March 10 and continue until the 26th of Ramadan. In the 2nd phase, chickpeas will be sold from the first of Ramadan.

Shafiquzzaman informed that a list has already been prepared for some one crore families to offer such facilities. "Some 30 lakh families have been chosen from the list of 50 lakh families prepared earlier to provide support in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic under the directives from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The list of rest of 70 lakh families have been prepared by the concerned district, upazila administrations and the city corporations," he added.

The Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary also said that the aim of the government is to provide essential items to the poor section of people at an affordable price during the month of Ramadan so that they can get some relief and can celebrate the Eid ul Fitr with ease and comfort.

He hoped that some 5 crore people would be benefitted once such products are provided to some one crore families. TCB dealers would sell such products at the places from where the listed poor people would be able to take their essential items.