The government is set to launch a sale drive of key essential items today (Tuesday) to keep prices within the purchasing power of ordinary people in the overheated commodity market.
The state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will sell essential commodities using 25-30 trucks in Dhaka's two city corporations at subsidised rates.
The trucks will sell potato at Tk 30 per kilo, onion at Tk 50 per kilo, lentil at Tk 60 per kilo and soybean oil at Tk 100 per litre.
A customer can buy two kg of onion, two kg of lentil, two kg of potato and two litres of oil at a time.
Anyone having family cards or not can buy the items from trucks, senior commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh told a press briefing at his ministry on Monday.
Senior officials of the commerce ministry and different state agencies were present at the programme.
Mr Ghosh said the prices of the products, which are up for sale, have recently increased in the market.
Each truck will carry four products for 300 people. Every day, an estimated 9,000 people can buy the commodities at subsidised rates.
If the supply of products increases, the number of trucks will also be increased proportionately, according to Mr Ghosh.
He, however, said it would not be possible to sell onion from Tuesday. It might two to three days to start selling the item from the trucks.
He said the prices of eggs and potatoes fell after the import of 10,095 tonnes of potatoes until Sunday last.
The commerce ministry allowed the import of some 250 million pieces of eggs, although only 62,000 pieces have so far been imported.
It is taking time to import the protein item due to some precautionary measures.
The ministry has asked the district administration to ensure the execution of the price set at cold storage level aiming to curb potato price volatility.
It also called for steps for the presence of an official at cold storages concerned during the time of potato sales, according to Mr Ghosh.
He said the government's goal was to reduce the price of eggs, not imports.
Imports will continue until the price stabilises.
Efforts are well underway to increase imports of essential commodities such as sugar and oil.
Mr Ghosh said the Prime Minister's Office has instructed the central bank and Sonali Bank to provide necessary support during the import of daily necessities.
The opening of letters of credit (LCs) for import of TCB products is mainly done through Sonali Bank.
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