Police arrested a trader on Sunday night after recovering essential goods of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) from his godown in Gazipur that was to be sold at a subsidised price by the government to the poor. The arrestee was identified as Md Shahin, 33. Ismail Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Gacha police station said Shahin was arrested during a drive conducted at Alhaz Mohor Khan Waqf Estate market at Board Bazar area following a tip off. Also read: TCB’s sale of essential items for 1 crore families starts Sunday During the drive at Sabbir-Shahin godown in the market, 2 liters each 37 bottles of edible oil, 37 packet sugar and 37 packets pulse with TCB packaging were recovered. In primary questioning Shahin said Jahangir Alamand Rafiq, office assistants of Abdullah Al Mamun Mandal, ward-35 councilor have sold him the TCB goods, said OC Ismail Hossain. “ Shamim said the office staffers of the ward-35 councilor sold oil at Tk 150 per litre, sugar at Tk 60 per Kg, pulse at Tk 70 per Kg to him and some other traders. We are conducting an investigation in this regard,” said the OC. Also read: Crowds growing around TCB trucks, women lack the access To interrogate the accused a seven day remand will be sought after producing him before court, he said. Meanwhile local sources said on Sunday, the first day of TCB sale through family cards , many listed families of ward-35 had to return empty handed at the early end of the sale at the councilor's office.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Thursday said the trading corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will distribute rice and other essentials at reduced prices among 1.0 crore families during the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan. TCB has taken preparation for distributing essentials including rice, flour, dates, edible oil, sugar and pulse among the people of lower income group and those who suffered from financial shock due to Covid-19 pandemic, the minister said. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of Mutual Trust Bank’s air lounge at Syedpur Airport on Thursday. Also read: TCB truck comes as relief amid price hike The minister said, "We are trying to match with the international market so that people can buy daily necessities at low prices." The 1.0 crore families will be assisted through TCB and OMS during Ramadan, he said. “Our plan was to provide TCB’s benefits to 50 lakh families. But on the directive of the Prime Minister, it has increased to 1.0 crore families,” Munshi added. Also read: Edible oil price increased in line with manufacturers' proposal Nilphamari-4 MP Ahsan Adelur Rahman, Local Government Deputy Director Abdur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman, Nilphamari Municipal Mayor Dewan Kamal Ahmed and Mutual Trust Back Chairman Hedayatullah Rono, among other, were present at the function.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is selling Turkish onions at just Tk15 per kg in Sylhet city. But people are showing little interest in it.