TCB launches sales this month as Eid nears

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will resume selling of essential commodities through open trucks from the current month amid price hike in some items in the market due mainly to flood in some parts of the country, officials said.

Besides, it will re-fix the prices of lentil, soybean and sugar for selling those to the consumers through open trucks by designated dealers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.  

The national trading agency in its 1124th board meeting today (Thursday) will fix the prices of sugar being purchased from Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) and one litre of pet bottled Pusti brand soybean, while also approving the previous meeting decisions.  

Apart from that, it will also approve the disbursement of first installment of essential commodities to be supplied to the dealers for selling those to the consumers during the upcoming Eid.

The TCB had sold essential commodities at subsidisied rates through 180 open trucks across the country during the last Ramadan. In the capital, the number of truck was 33.    

The sale of essential commodities through open trucks has remained suspended since last Ramadan.

At present, the TCB is selling some essential commodities at its central office and other regional offices at Narayanganj, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahin and Moulvibazar.

The TCB is now selling sugar (produced by BSFIC) at Tk 48 per kg, masur dal (lentil) at Tk 89.95 Tk and soyabean of pusti brand at Tk 80.00 per litre of pet bottled.

In the city's retail markets on Wednesday, sugar was sold at Tk 68 go Tk 72 per kg while lentil (depending on quality) was sold between Tk 120 and Tk 140 per kg and pet bottled of soyabean per litre of soybean of different brand was sold between Tk 95 and Tk 105.    

 "We (TCB) are preparing to resume selling of essential commodities through open trucks by the dealers from the last part of the current month (August)," spokesperson of TCB Md Humayun Kabir told the FE.    

He said that the TCB has sufficient quantity of essential commodities to fulfill the demand during the Eid festival.

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