State-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh on Thursday started selling five daily essentials ahead of Ramadan.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi inaugurated the sale of five items- edible oil, sugar, dates, chickpeas and lentils- formally at a function at Tejgaon in the capital.
These essential items will be sold in two phases at subsidized rates among 1 crore low-income families across the country on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.
Addressing the inaugural event, the minister said the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working sincerely to alleviate the sufferings of the low-income people of the country.
Every month, oil, pulse, sugar are being sold at subsidized prices to one crore families of the country. On the occasion of holy Ramadan, dates and chickpeas are being sold in Dhaka city, he said.
The five products are sugar at Tk60 per kg, lentils at Tk70 per kg, soyabean oil at Tk110 per kg, chickpea at Tk50 per kg and dates at Tk100 per kg (in Dhaka city alone).
The second installment of the essentials will be sold early next month.
The card holders can buy the five goods at subsidized rates from the TCB's specific sales points and dealers' outlets.
A card holder can buy 2 litre soybean oil, 2 kg lentil, sugar, chickpea and 1 kg date at a time.
TCB Chairman Brig Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman was present on the occasion.