Govt asks DCs to scan the drive

The government has asked all deputy commissioners (DCs) to go all out to materialise the sales drive of 5.0-kg rice packs for 10-million low-income cardholders.
The state-backed Trade Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is going to sell rice alongside three essential items at subsidised rates from tomorrow (Sunday).
Commerce ministry recently wrote to the commissioners to take necessary steps with an eye to implementing and monitoring the programme successfully.
The TCB, for the first time, will sell the 5.0-kg rice at Tk 30 per kg.
The food directorate is expected to deliver the required rice to the corporation for trading.
Commerce minister Tipu Munshi is expected to inaugurate the sales drive across the country.
Food minister will be present at the programme.
Senior commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh and TCB chairman Md Ariful Hassan, among others, will also attend the event.
The TCB sells soybean oil, sugar and lentils every month at subsidised prices.
From this July drive, the cardholder households can buy 5.0 kg of rice at the prices of Tk 30 per kg in addition to the three existing commodities every month.
An official said daily essentials are being supplied at low prices through the TCB.
Officials have been instructed to monitor whether these products are reaching people properly.
Action would be taken if anyone found involved in anomalies, warned the minister, saying work was underway to convert TCB cards into smart cards to prevent such irregularities.
Some 10 million would get smart cards gradually, he told the event.
Under the drive in July, a family cardholder will be able to purchase 1.0 kg of sugar for Tk 70 and 2.0 litres of soybean oil at Tk 100 per kg.

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