The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

Some state run organisations and business bodies have taken measures to keep the prices of essentials stable during the upcoming holy month of Ramzan.

They will open shops in the capital and other district towns to sell rice, soybean oil, gram, lentils, onion and other essential items to the consumers at affordable prices.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), Ansar, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and other private business organisations would sell those commodities during the month.

The Additional Commerce Secretary Golam Mostakim yesterday told the media after an inter-ministerial meeting that the Commerce Ministry has asked TCB to import 3 thousand metric tonnes of lentils before the start of Ramzan.

He said that about 6,698 dealers would sell 243,016 tonnes of rice from tomorrow across the country at Tk 28 per kg. It will continue till October 29.

Replying to a question, he said the government has a stock of 12 lakh tonnes of food grains including 10,15,925 tonnes of rice and 1,58,000 tonnes of wheat in its godowns. About the stock of onion, he said domestic production of this year was 13,83,832 tonnes and another 3,75,189 tonnes have been imported.

He said that joint forces, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and BDR would monitor the markets during the month of Ramzan.

On the preparations for importing essentials during the month of Ramzan, a high official of TCB said it would set up fair price shops in the capital for the limited income group people from the first day of Ramzan.

TCB has signed a deal to import one lakh tonnes of onion from abroad. It would also import five hundred tonnes of gram , he said and added that the organisation is also going to float tenders shortly for importing more onion, lentils and edible oil.

About 12 trucks of TCB will sale onion, edible oil and chickpea in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna.

Meanwhile, the National Board of Revenue is considering import of dates with zero traffic through dealers, sources said.

To ease the price burden of the limited income group people, BDR has already started selling of rice under Open Market Sale (OMS) at Tk 28 per kg in the city.

BDR is also selling rice, edible oil and gram from its 210 shopping outlets in 32 districts. Nearly 100 shopping outlets are selling rice, edible oil and gram in the capital city.

It would also set up more shopping outlets in Dhaka city and other places of the country for providing necessary commodities to the consumers at rational price.

The FBCCI would set up shops in all district headquarters for selling rice, gram, onion, sugar and dates at subsidised rates. A director of FBCCI said the apex trade body would buy those commodities from internal sources with their own fund. They would also bear the rent of sales shops and transportation cost.

BKMEA would also set up three shops at Narayanganj and one each at Gazipur and Savar.