The government has started the process of converting some 10 million family cards, which were previously given to the people of low-income groups to buy essentials from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) shops, into smart cards.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the second phase of sales of goods by the TCB in the capital's Uttara on Monday.
A piloting project of conversion of TCB's family cards into smart cards has been completed in Dhaka North City Corporation, Narayanganj and Barisal.
Now, the process of turning all existing hand-written cards into smart cards with QR codes is going on, he said.
The minister hoped that existing discrepancies will be eliminated if the manual (hand-written) cards are converted into smart cards.
Prices of essential commodities have increased abnormally around the world due to the Russia-Ukraine war, affecting local kitchen market prices, said Mr Munshi.
Despite the situation, the prime minister has ordered to continue providing goods at low prices to poor people, he said.
As per the instruction of the premier, some key essential items are sold at subsidised prices among 10 million low-income card-holder families throughout the year, he added.
Replying to a question, the minister said the government is considering increasing the number of family cards.
Relying to another question, Mr Munshi said that there is a sufficient stock of essential goods in the country.
The commerce ministry does not control all products in the market - but there is a misconception that the ministry is involved in price hike, the minister clarified.
Senior Secretary of the ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh was present as a special guest at the event.
Besides, TCB Chairman Md. Ariful Hasan, among others, was present.
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