TCB to sell rice to family cardholders

For the first time, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will sell rice at subsidised rates along with oil, sugar and lentils to one crore family cardholders from the next month, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said yesterday.

Each of the cardholders will be able to buy five kilogrammes of rice, the minister said while inaugurating the sale of TCB products for the cardholders across the country for June in Dhaka's Tejgaon area.

The TCB usually distributes oil, sugar, lentil, gram and dates during Ramadan at affordable prices to one crore families.

"It has been decided to give five kgs of rice at subsidised rate against each card from the next month," Munshi said.

Besides, the price of soybean oil has been reduced by Tk 10 per litre due to the reduction in the price in the international market, he said, adding that the move would also benefit the TCB cardholders.

Munshi said, due to the global situation, the price of essential goods in the country has increased. Still, efforts are underway to control prices in local market, he said.

Under the month-long activity, the three commodities will be sold through 6,700 designated dealers across the country, including 1,100 in Dhaka.

The family cardholders have to go to the designated distributors' stores to purchase their desired products.