Three black marketeers held with TCB items

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three black marketeers with essential items meant for 'open market sale (OMS)' programme of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) in the capital on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, the elite force arrested Md Abul Kasem, 53, Md Arman, 39, and Md Irfan, 21, from the Pallabi area and recovered 2,052 litres of edible oil, 150 kg of sugar and 100 kg of lentil from their possession.

The TCB has been selling these products at subsidised rates considering the economic woes of the

limited income group through its designated dealers at different areas of the capital.

Additional Director General and Commander of RAB-4 Mozammel Haque told the media that the arrestee used to procure TCB items such as soyabean, sugar and lentil and sold them at higher prices in different areas of the capital.

The three also confessed that they had been involved in such acts -- selling TCB goods on the black market -- for a long time, he added.

The government launched several food assistance programmes, including selling of essential commodities at subsidised rate, during the coronavirus pandemic.

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