TCB to import essentials during Ramadan

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The government has given permission to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to import essential commodities, including lentil (mashur), edible oil, onion, gram (chhola) and sugar, for keeping their prices normal during the holy month of Ramadan, reports BSS.
To this end, the TCB has already started its activities so that all imported essential goods would be available in the markets before the beginning of Ramadan, officials sources said.
International tenders were invited to import about 11,000 tonnes of lentil from Turkey this year, they said, adding a Dubai-based company Price Club General Trading got the tender and submitted all documents related to bank guarantee. After final negotiation, the price of per tonne lentil has been fixed at 748 US dollars.
TCB has invited tender to import 2,500 tonnes of edible oil and it will buy 500 tonnes from local market. According to the decision of the commerce ministry, it has already floated tender to import 200 tonnes of onion and 300 tonnes of gram.
Besides, the TCB will buy sugar from Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) and sell it in open markets to keep its price stable.
At present, about 800 tonnes of sugar and 300 tonnes of lentil are available in TCB's Tejgaon godown in the city and both the commodities are being sold at fair prices at TCB head office and all its regional offices.