The government is set to launch a nationwide mobile truck sale programme of essential commodities through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh from Monday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to reduce pressure on consumers amid rising prices.
According to an official announcement signed by Md Shahadat Hossain, the special programme will continue from May 11 to May 22 except Fridays through 720 mobile trucks across the country.
Under the programme, TCB products including edible oil, sugar and lentils will be sold at subsidised prices for the general public alongside the ongoing support programme for low-income cardholder families.
In Dhaka metropolitan area and district, 50 trucks will operate daily while 20 trucks will run in Chattogram metropolitan area and district.
In the remaining six divisional cities and their respective districts, 15 trucks will operate in each area. Another 10 trucks will run in each of the other 56 districts.
Each truck will serve around 400 consumers every day and nearly 29 lakh people are expected to benefit from the programme.
Around 13,939 tonnes of products will be sold through the mobile truck sales.
Under the programme, consumers can buy up to two litres of edible oil at Tk130 per litre, one kilogram of sugar at Tk80 per kg and two kilograms of lentils at Tk70 per kg.
The statement said any consumer will be able to purchase products from the mobile trucks.
Meanwhile, around 72 lakh TCB cardholder families will receive subsidised products in May under the regular programme.
Officials said nearly 34,848 tonnes of products will be distributed among cardholders during the month and the prices and quantity of edible oil, sugar and lentils for cardholders will remain unchanged.