The government is set to launch a sales drive of essential commodities for around 10 million low-income families countrywide today (Wednesday), sources said.
Currently, the drive is run by the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) every month.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi will inaugurate the month-long programme from Nabisco, Tejgaon in ward-25 under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) as the chief guest. The minister also will distribute smart family cards.
Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh and TCB Chairman Md Ariful Hassan, among others, will attend the event.
The state entity TCB will sell soybean oil/bran oil, sugar, rice, lentil and onion during the drive at subsidised rates.
Cardholder families each will be able to buy 5.0 kilogram of rice at Tk30 per kg in addition to four other commodities every month.
Besides, a cardholder will be able to buy 1.0 kg of sugar at Tk70, 2.0 kg of lentil at Tk60 per kg, 2.0 kg of onion at Tk50 per kg and 2.0 litres of soybean oil at Tk100.
The TCB sales will be coordinated in the district, upzila and union parishad levels by the local administrations.
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