The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) plans to sell essential goods at low prices from 520 trucks across the country in the coming Ramadan, up from 450 trucks last Ramadan. If the plan goes ahead, about 4 million people will be able to buy cheaper food, a target 600,000 higher than last year.
Extra stocks of edible oil, red lentils, sugar and other essentials are being built up for Ramadan. TCB is also considering open-market sales (OMS) for ordinary buyers who do not hold its family smart cards.
TCB chairman Brigadier General Mohammad Faisal Azad said procurement is being prepared with Ramadan demand in mind and there is no risk of shortages in regular operations. Talks with international suppliers for the extra goods are under way and tenders have been called for some items, but the volume of additional imports is not yet settled.
According to the commerce ministry, TCB's procurement target for the 2026-27 fiscal year is 220 million litres of edible oil, 220,000 tonnes of red lentils, 110,000 tonnes of sugar, 14,000 tonnes of chickpeas and 4,400 tonnes of dates, from local and international markets.
Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) figures show edible oil imports of 823,000 tonnes from 1 July to 25 October, against 705,000 tonnes a year earlier, plus 501,000 tonnes of soybean seed. Sugar imports rose by 153,000 tonnes to 687,000 tonnes. Chickpea imports reached 82,000 tonnes, against just 12,000 tonnes in the same period last year. Lentil imports were 122,000 tonnes, 64,000 tonnes more than a year earlier, and date imports rose from 4,000 to 11,000 tonnes.
People involved say higher imports, government procurement and wider truck sales can help keep Ramadan supplies normal, but only if goods arrive on time and are sold at affordable prices. The report is by Ittefaq's digital reporting team.
Source: Ittefaq
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