Dhaka Bureau: Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that the government is making all preparations to control the market by maintaining the supply of dates and other daily necessities in the upcoming month of Ramadan.
He said this in response to questions from reporters after inaugurating TCB’s family smart card distribution and affordable product sale program organized by Bangladesh Trading Corporation of Bangladesh-TCB at Tejgaon in the capital today.
In response to the question of whether the import duty on dates and other products will be reduced on the occasion of Ramadan, Tipu Munshi said that the Ministry of Commerce cannot reduce the duty but can request the National Board of Revenue to reduce it, and it is done considering the situation. All kinds of measures will be taken by the government so that people can easily buy dates and other essential products during the month of Ramadan.
In response to another question from the journalists, the commerce minister said that TCB card holders will definitely get the product once every month. Because the product is specified in its name. Out of these one crore cardholders, low-income people are being sold daily at truck sales at subsidized rates. A specific amount of product is distributed on this truck. Three hundred people have the opportunity to get products from one truck. I can’t pay more than that. Naturally, first come, first served. Some people have to go back empty-handed.
In this context, he also said that we are trying to increase the number of truck sales. Besides, whether it can be given in the big cities of the country is also being considered so that more people can be brought under this facility.
In response to a question about the potato market price, the commerce minister said, “We allowed the import soon after the potato market became unstable. After that, the arrival of potatoes from India has had a huge positive impact on the market. New potatoes have started arriving in the country. Completely new potatoes will be available on the market within the next month. This will keep the price of potatoes at a bearable level.
Tipu Munshi said, considering the overall market situation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the distribution of daily necessities outside the TCB card holders, thinking about the low-income people. In light of that directive, soybeans, onions, potatoes, etc. are being sold at subsidized prices through 30 truck sales in the capital.
He said the Bangladesh Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is conducting a campaign to convert one crore family cards into smart cards with a challenge. He sought everyone’s cooperation to make this great initiative of the government a success. The Commerce Minister said that it will be possible to distribute 2 million smart cards within this month.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, spoke as a special guest on the occasion. Meanwhile, TCB Chairman Brigadier General Md. Ariful Hasan, North City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Md. Salim Reza, and Ward No. 25 Councilor Abdullah Al Manzoor were present, among others.
