Govt raises subsidised food support for additional 6.0m people ahead of Eid

The government has increased the number of subsidised food beneficiaries by 6.0 million ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, taking the total to around 28.8 million people, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said on Monday.

He said food commodity distribution through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has been increased to around 14,000 tonnes this Eid season from 10,900 tonnes last year, marking a nearly 40 per cent rise.

The minister made the remarks while inaugurating the TCB truck-sale programme for Eid-ul-Azha 2026 at Agargaon in the city.

He said the government has taken several landmark initiatives to ensure transparency, accountability and effective monitoring in the market system.

"We are building strategic reserves of essential commodities, introducing AI-based supply chain monitoring and strengthening TCB operations so that no syndicate or market manipulation can affect the essentials market," he said.

The commerce minister said the government's main goal is to ensure subsidised food support for low-income, lower middle-income and marginalised people across the country.

He said around 22.8 million beneficiaries received subsidised food products during Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr and the number would now be raised to nearly 28.8 million.

Mr Muktadir also said the government would continue TCB truck-sale operations during festivals, emergencies or periods of abnormal market pressure to ensure food security for people.

Referring to beneficiary database reforms, he said around 5.9 million names in the previous list of 10 million beneficiaries were found questionable.

After verification, around 8.0 million genuine beneficiaries have been selected transparently, while another 2.0 million families would be included gradually in coming days.

The minister said a new policy was being formulated to ensure transparency in appointing TCB dealers.

"TCB is being transformed into a fully accountable and technology-driven institution," he said.

Talking about the government's anti-manipulation measures, the minister said strategic reserves would be created for selected essential commodities, while the entire supply chain--from import to retail sales --would be brought under AI-based digital monitoring.

He said the government also wants to create a partnership-based system so that more entrepreneurs can participate in the import and distribution of essential goods, ensuring healthy competition in the market.

Commerce Secretary (routine duty) Md Abdur Rahim Khan and TCB Chairman Brig Gen Mohammad Faisal Azad also spoke on the occasion.

Under the government initiative, essential items are being sold through 720 mobile trucks across the country and it would continue until May 21 (excluding Fridays).

Each truck serves around 400 consumers daily, offering subsidised products including edible oil, sugar and lentils. The sales will be open to all consumers.

As part of the distribution plan, 50 trucks will operate in Dhaka metropolitan area (including Dhaka district), 20 in Chattogram metropolitan area (including Chattogram district), 15 in each of the six other divisional cities and their respective districts, and 10 trucks in each of the remaining 56 districts.

Each consumer will be able to purchase a maximum of two litres of edible oil at Tk 130 per litre, one kg of sugar at Tk 80 and two kg of lentils at Tk 70 per kg.

According to TCB, the ongoing subsidised sales for low-income families holding TCB cards will continue alongside this initiative.

For Eid-ul-Adha, around 8.0 million TCB cardholder families will receive nearly 35,000 tonnes of goods in May under the regular subsidised programme.

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