Commerce Minister announces citizen watchdogs for TCB transparency

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Saturday said citizen representatives will play a stronger role in overseeing the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) operations to enhance transparency and curb irregularities.

The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after inspecting TCB’s mobile truck sales programme in the Lakkatura area of Sylhet. 

He said that one or more citizen committees will be formed in every ward to monitor TCB activities and ensure smooth implementation without malpractice.

Muktadir, who also serves as minister of industries, textiles, and jute, emphasized the public service nature of the initiative. “Supply of TCB products is a public service. We will ensure that it aligns with public expectations,” he said.

In preparation for Ramadan, the government has begun distributing essential commodities at subsidised prices through the state run TCB. The items available under the programme include edible oil, sugar, chickpeas, lentils and dates.

At present, 50 mobile trucks are operating in Dhaka, 20 in Chattogram, and 15 in each of the seven divisional areas. In the remaining 55 districts, five trucks per district are conducting sales. The programme is scheduled to continue until 12 March.

Under the scheme, each buyer is allowed to purchase up to two litres of edible oil, one kilogram of sugar, two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of chickpeas, and between one and two kilograms of dates, depending on availability.

Prices have been fixed at Tk115 per litre for edible oil, Tk80 per kilogram for sugar, and Tk70 per kilogram for lentils. During Ramadan, chickpeas are being sold at Tk60 per kilogram and dates at Tk160 per kilogram.