Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started selling essential items through family cards at subsidy rate here along with other parts of the division since this morning.
Commissioner of Rajshahi Division GSM Zafarullah accompanied by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abdul Jalil and others concerned opened the selling activities at Mahisbathan Colony playground in the morning.
The TCB essential items are being sold at 27 points here including seven in the city.
Commissioner Zafarullah told BSS that 55,000 low-income families in the city areas and 1,44,140 others in the pourashava and upazila areas in the district will get the commodities at subsidy rate.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the initiative of selling essential commodities for betterment of the low-income families.
The essential items will be sold in two phases.
In the first phase, TCB will sell the essential items from March 20 and continue until March 30. In the 2nd phase, the organization will sell the products from April 3 and will continue until April 20. In the second phase, two kilograms of chickpea, date and onion will be added to the list.
Zafarullah said the aim of the government is to provide essential items to the poor section of people at an affordable price during the month of Ramadan so that they can get some relief and can celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with ease and comfort.
He said the humanitarian initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will benefit the poor people besides contributing to control the market price.
Low income and other marginalized people in both rural and urban areas will be benefited. Family cards were reached to all the target group people.
From the TCB trucks, a consumer would be able to take maximum two KGs of sugar at Taka 55 per kg, two liters of soybean oil at Taka 110 per liter, two kgs of lentil at Taka 65 per kg and two kgs of chickpea at Taka 50 per kg.
Around 13.39 lakh marginalized and other low-incoming households will get the TCB essential commodities at subsidized rate through family cards issued by local administration in the division.
TCB has brought some changes in its selling process aimed at bringing back discipline and special cards have been arranged for the less-income group people.
Moshiur Rahman, secretary of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), said they have completed the card-preparation works in all 30 wards of the city.
Shahidul Islam, Rajshahi Regional Head of the TCB told BSS that 5,66,360 families will get TCB commodities in his jurisdiction areas.
Talking to BSS, Bogura Regional Head of the TCB Shafiqul Islam said 7,72,331 families will get the commodities in his working districts of Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogura, Joypurhat and Gaibandha.
From now on, none will have to stand in line to purchase TCB goods but anyone can buy goods through only showing his family card. Only the deserved families can avail the facilities, he added.
(BSS)