The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is planning a pilot initiative to sell essential commodities in the open market at prices below the prevailing market rates, without government subsidy. TCB Chairman Brigadier General Mohammad Foyshol Azad revealed that the pilot will initially focus on edible oil, with the first shipment of 20,000 metric tons expected in September. The initiative aims to make these commodities accessible to all consumers, not just those under the Smart Family Card program.
According to Brigadier General Foyshol, the government will not provide any subsidy for these open-market sales. Instead, TCB will procure commodities at competitive prices and sell them at a margin lower than the market rate, potentially Tk10 to Tk12 lower per unit. The pilot will run for three to four months to assess market response.
If successful, TCB plans to expand the initiative to include other essential commodities like sugar and lentils, procured at lower prices. The chairman emphasized that this initiative is an addition to, not a replacement for, TCB’s existing subsidized sales program through the Smart Family Card system.
Brigadier General Foyshol expressed optimism that the pilot, if successful, could help bring down overall market prices. He also noted that no additional budgetary allocation is required for the pilot as the current budget already includes provisions for TCB’s operations. This new initiative could significantly benefit consumers by making essential commodities more affordable.
