The government will use the database of 3.8 million people, prepared to provide financial assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic, to supply essential items through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) twice - before and in the month of Ramadan.
The TCB has already procured required quantity of commodities, so that nearly 5.0 million families can be given those at subsidised rates, officials said.
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce held a coordination meeting, presided over by its Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, to chalk out the TCB's Ramadan plan and its implementation strategies.
The meeting also discussed about raising the number of warehouses and delivery points of the TCB in the city corporation areas to quickly send goods to selling spots. The number of warehouses and delivery points in Dhaka city corporation area would be increased to five.
Apart from using the database, the meeting decided that goods would be sent to the deputy commissioners (DCs) in all districts, 15 days before their distribution date.
Sugar and lentil have to be sold in packed form instead of unpacked one, and the DCs would ensure it. Goods have to be distributed among the selected beneficiaries by using family cards.
TCB Chairman Brigadier General Ariful Hassan told the FE on Friday that the government wants to sell essential commodities to poor people, who really need those at subsidised rates.
"But it was found that many poor people are taking goods several times, and selling those to nearby shops. Thus, the targeted people fail to get those."
Mr Hassan said police recovered some TCB goods from a shop on Thursday, which had been collected by individuals and were sold there.
People, those who really do not need the TCB goods, are also taking these, and also some people are taking several times.
"Then the authority discussed how to supply goods to the people, who really need those. So we've decided to use the Covid-19 database."
The TCB chief noted that firstly they would target the people in the database. If some goods remain unsold, those would be sold to people present on the spot.
"Mainly the monitoring of goods sales will be strengthened (in this way). We are working on how to materialise the plan by engaging local administration," he added.
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