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The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is set to launch its drive today (Sunday) to sell key essential items for around 10 million families countrywide.
Commerce minister Tipu Munshi will inaugurate the month-long programme from Dhanmondi ward 15 in Dhaka city.
Senior commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh and TCB chairman Md Ariful Hassan, among others, are expected to attend the event.
The state-owned TCB will sell soybean oil, sugar, rice, lentil and onion during the drive at subsidised rates.
Cardholder families each will be able to buy 5.0 kilogram of rice at Tk 30 per kg in addition to four other commodities every month.
Besides, a cardholder will be able to buy 1.0 kg of sugar at Tk 70, lentil at Tk 60 per kg, onion at Tk 35 per kg and 2.0 litres of soybean oil at Tk 100.
An official said daily essentials are being supplied at low prices through the TCB.
Smartcard distribution among existing cardholders would begin as soon as possible. All the cardholders would get smartcards in phases, he added.
The official, however, said sugar would sell until its stock ends during the drive.
Action would be taken if anyone found involved in anomalies during the sale of essential items, he warned.
The trade body will sell rice and onion only in the Dhaka metropolitan area, according to a TCB document.
All preparations regarding the issue are in place, it mentioned.
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