BDR to sell Ramadan items from August 15

FE Team | Published: August 02, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has taken all preparations to sell the Ramadan items from August 15 through its fair price outlets ahead of Ramadan to provide a bit of relief to the low and middle income group, already hard-pressed by spiraling prices of essentials, reports UNB.

This year BDR will set up over 200 fair price outlets across the country, including 100 in capital Dhaka, under its `Operation Dal-Bhat' programme to bring the prices of essentials within the purchasing capacity of ordinary people in the holy month of Ramadan when prices usually shoot up.

Currently, BDR has some 65 fair price outlets in the city and the number will rise to 100 by middle of August.

BDR sources said this time, supply of daily necessities, particularly the Ramadan items, would be ensured through its outlets, as the city dwellers did not get some Ramadan items like `Khejur' and `Chhola' on first 12-14 days in Ramadan last year due to disruption in supply.

Chief Procurement Officer Lt Col Enayet told UNB that they have already arranged all the Ramadan items, including date (khejur), gram (chhola), different types of pulses, spices and soybean oil, except rice as the Food Ministry imposed restriction on it.

"But we're still waiting for the green signal of the caretaker government on importing rice. After getting the government order, we'll arrange it as soon as possible," he said over telephone.

Col Enayet said they have arranged everything early considering the last year's disruption of supply. "We're ready to sell those items from August 15 so that the wholesalers could not take the opportunity of raising the prices of daily commodities ahead of Ramadan."

He informed that this year they imported 10 per cent more than the last year, targeting the month of Ramadan.

"When we started our fair price outlets, we received tremendous response from the general public because our outlets not only offer quality products at fair price, but also ensure correct weight," he said.

Enayet said several special teams would closely monitor the activities of the BDR-run outlets to ensure accountability and transparency.