Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi yesterday said the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would sell essential items to someone crore low-income group people at low prices ahead of the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan.
“This time, TCB will come to the market increasing its capacity around four times. Essential items of the TCB will be reached to one crore people within the next one or one? and a half month. I think, around five crore people will be benefited through the initiative,” he said.
The minister said this while speaking at a press conference after a meeting held at the Secretariat on keeping the commodities prices in check during the month of Ramadan.
Tipu Munshi informed that the government has decided to stop the sale of non-bottled soybean oil after 31 May and sale of non-bottled palm oil after 31 December.
“Only bottled or packed soybean and palm oil will be allowed to be sold in retail shops. It is not possible to ensure that non-bottled oil is sold at a fixed price. Therefore, edible oil will be sold in a softly-packaged system. The Commerce Ministry is working with the Industries Ministry to ensure the packaging systems,” he said.
He also said the government will take stern action against dishonest businessmen who are illegally stocking and hoarding edible oils.
“Some of them sell bottled oil illegally as non-bottled to make a profit,” he added.
To control the unusual price situation, the minister said law enforcement and intelligence agencies, deputy commissioners, consumer rights protection department, competition commission and other agencies have been instructed to conduct drives in the market.
However, Tipu Munshi said there is no possibility of crisis of essential commodities during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan across the country as there is enough stock of the items.
“There will be no shortage of essential commodities in the country during the Ramadan … the country has sufficient stock of essential commodities,” he said.
