Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Thursday said that the number of family cards of the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would be increased considering the selling of essential items among the common people at subsidized rates.

Tipu said this while inaugurating the sale operations of essentials of TCB as the chief guest at Tejgaon in capital Dhaka marking the Holy Month of Ramadan.

"Ours such kind of operation aims at delivering essentials among one crore families at affordable price. Such essentials would be sold ahead of Ramadan. The prices of commodities have increased worldwide putting an impact on the local market also.

Considering the interests of the common people, the Prime Minister has been trying her best to sell essentials among the commoners at an affordable price. We're working to this end" he said.

He informed that such operations of TCB would continue until March 30 while efforts are there so that the family card holders get their essential items at ease side by side there is distribution of more cards.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh, TCB Chairman Brig Gen M Ariful Hasan, Dhaka North City Corporation 25 number ward councilor Abdullah Al Monjur were present, among others, on the occasion.

Marking the Holy Month of Ramadan, some one crore families across the country including Dhaka are getting five essential items at subsidized rates from today. These items are edible oil, sugar, dates, chickpeas and lentil. The operations will be conducted in two phases while the first phase was inaugurated today.

Under the operation, the price of per kg sugar is Taka 60, per kg lentil is Taka 70, per litre soybean oil is Taka 110, per kg chickpeas is Taka 50 while per kg dates is Taka 100.

One consumer will be able to buy highest 2 kgs of lentil, 2 litres of Soybean oil, one kg each sugar, chickpeas and dates.

Source: BSS