The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will launch the sale of some selected commodities including soyabean oil, pulses and sugar at fair prices ahead of the holy Ramadan in order to help rein in their prices during the fasting month, official source said.
"We have asked the TCB for conducting a fair-price sales drive of some selected items to help stabilise the prices of such largely consumed items during the ensuing holy month of Ramadan," a senior Commerce Ministry official said.
The official further said the TCB's sales drive will be a part of the government's current move to support the poor and limited-income groups of people and also prevent further escalation of the commodity prices during the holy month.
Against this backdrop, the state-run trading agency is expected to conduct its marketing drive in the capital city and some other divisional headquarters, including Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi, the official noted.
According to officials, the TCB is taking necessary preparations for selling 3000 tonnes of edible oil, 3000 tonnes of pulses (lentil), 500 tonnes of gram and 500 tonnes of sugar on the occasion of Ramadan.
The Corporation has already started procuring the aforesaid commodities from both the internal and external sources through tenders for conducting its sale operations, they said.
A Commerce Ministry official said the TCB will carry out the sales operations from trucks positioned in different important locations in the capital, targeting the lower income consumers and slum dwellers.
Besides, the Corporation is also planning to use mobile vans and trucks for selling the commodities in key points of Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi cities, the official added.
Without going into detail about the price structures, the official said the TCB will definitely sell the commodities at a comparatively lower than market prices.
He, however, expressed the hope that the TCB's sales operations will not only help the limited-income groups buy those commodities at fair prices, but also create a positive impact on the local market to some extent.
"It is a part of the government's ongoing initiative to help rein in the prices of essential items in the market during the holy month of Ramadan," said the official.
Fearing a further rise in the commodity prices before and during the month of Ramadan, the government has also decided to launch an open market sale (OMS) of rice at Tk 28 per kg from August 20 across the country, officials said.
Besides, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) will also resume its fair-price shops ahead of the Ramadan to help keep the prices of some major essentials at reasonable levels for the commoners, they added.
Apart from that, the Ministry of Commerce is also liaising separately with representatives of local trade bodies, suppliers and importers in a bid to help stabilise the local commodity market, especially during the upcoming Ramadan, they mentioned.
