The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has completed preparations to sell essential commodities at subsidised prices to low-income people in Khulna ahead of Ramadan.
TCB officials said there is no shortage of products. Consignments of chickpeas and dates have already arrived, while the remaining shipment, currently awaiting unloading at Chattogram Port, is expected to reach Khulna next week.
Sales during Ramadan will be conducted exclusively through the Family Card system, and officials said adequate stocks have been ensured.
A total of 142,848 Family Card holders in Khulna district and the metropolitan area will benefit from the program. Among them, 65,463 beneficiaries are in 31 wards of Khulna city, while 77,385 are spread across nine upazilas.
Under the existing scheme, beneficiaries can purchase two litres of edible oil, one kilogram of sugar and two kilograms of lentils for Tk390 per month through authorized dealers. During Ramadan, chickpeas and dates will be added to the package. Prices for the additional items are yet to be finalised.
A tender for chickpeas and dates was completed two months ago, and stocks will be transported from the TCB head office to Khulna. Sales are expected to begin before Ramadan.
Confirming the preparations, TCB Khulna Office Chief and Joint Director Md Humayun Kabir said 261 dealers will sell the subsidised items across 31 city wards and nine upazilas. Dealers will use a mobile application to distribute products to cardholders.
Kabir said the exact sales schedule has not yet been finalized due to the national election, as district officials remain occupied. “A meeting will be held immediately after the election. However, sales will start before Ramadan,” he said.
TCB’s truck sales programme remains suspended and would require approval from the Ministry of Commerce to resume. If approved, people outside the Family Card system would also be able to purchase TCB products.
Meanwhile, an online review of Family Cards following the change in government led to the cancellation of many cards, particularly where multiple cards were held by members of the same family. As a result, many former beneficiaries and new applicants will miss out on the programme this Ramadan.
The absence of elected representatives at the Khulna City Corporation has further complicated the issue, as ward offices reportedly lack updated information on cancelled cards and pending applications.