The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) plans to operate 520 trucks daily across the country during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, up from 450 trucks last year, to expand access of essential commodities at affordable prices to common people.
The state-run corporation is also preparing to import additional quantities of edible oil, pulses and sugar for open-market sales (OMS), enabling consumers without TCB smart cards to benefit from the government's Ramadan supply programme.
TCB Chairman Brigadier General Mohammad Foyshol Azad said preparations were underway to ensure an adequate supply of essential commodities during the holy month.
“We have a procurement plan for Ramadan, and we are proceeding according to that plan. We do not anticipate any problem with TCB's regular supplies for the month,” he said while talking to BSS.
Azad said the government was considering additional sales beyond the regular smart-card distribution programme to reach a wider section of consumers.
“We are preparing to sell essential commodities through open-market sales so that consumers who do not hold TCB cards can also benefit,” he said.
As part of the preparations, TCB has contacted foreign suppliers to import additional quantities of edible oil, pulses and sugar and has floated tenders for some procurement arrangements.
The proposed imports will be in addition to the corporation's regular procurement for Ramadan.
Asked about the quantities to be imported, the chairman said the final amounts had yet to be determined because of time constraints.
“The government has this plan, and we have undertaken the necessary preparatory steps. However, we cannot confirm the final quantities until the procurement arrangements become clearer,” he said.
TCB plans to increase its daily truck-based sales operations by 70 vehicles, from 450 during the last Ramadan to 520 during the upcoming fasting month of the Muslims.
The expansion is expected to increase the number of beneficiaries from 34 lakh last year to 40 lakh this year, reaching an additional six lakh people.
“Yes. We are increasing the number from 450 to 520 trucks daily,” Azad said.
He added that TCB might also increase the quantities of commodities supplied through the truck-based programme, although the final amounts had not yet been confirmed.
The expanded operation is intended to strengthen the availability of essential commodities at affordable prices during Ramadan, when household demand typically rises.
TCB's regular smart-card programme will continue alongside the planned open-market sales initiative. The additional sales would allow consumers who are not enrolled in the smart-card programme to purchase essential commodities through designated sales channels.
The corporation is working on procurement and distribution arrangements to ensure that supplies are available during the month. However, the quantities of additional imports and the final volume of commodities to be sold through trucks will depend on the progress of procurement and related preparations.
TCB expects the expanded truck-based programme, combined with additional procurement and open-market sales, to help improve consumer access to essential commodities during the upcoming Ramadan.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the TCB has already prepared a procurement plan for FY27 to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities. Under the plan, TCB intends to procure a total of 22 crore liters of edible oil, 2.20 lakh metric tons of red lentils, 1.10 lakh metric tons of sugar, 14,000 metric tons of chickpeas and 4,400 metric tons of dates through local and international sources.
According to the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) data, imports of edible oil, sugar, chickpeas, lentils and dates increased during the July 1-October 25 period of the current fiscal year compared with the same period last year.
The country imported 823,000 tonnes of edible oil during the period, up from 705,000 tonnes a year earlier. LCs opened for edible oil amounted to 805,000 tonnes, an increase of 131,000 tonnes year-on-year.
Imports of soybean seeds reached 501,000 tonnes, up by 113,000 tonnes from the corresponding period last year.
Sugar imports stood at 687,000 tonnes, an increase of 153,000 tonnes year-on-year, while LCs opened for sugar amounted to 810,000 tonnes.
Imports of chickpeas, a key ingredient for iftar during Ramadan, rose significantly to 82,000 tonnes from 12,000 tonnes in the same period last year. LCs opened for chickpeas reached 138,000 tonnes.
Lentil imports totaled 122,000 tonnes, up by 64,000 tonnes year-on-year, while LCs opened for the commodity amounted to 114,000 tonnes.
Date imports reached 11,000 tonnes during the period, compared with 4,000 tonnes a year earlier.