NEWS DESK 

The state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is going to begin open market sales of commodities at subsidised prices across the country from today, more than three weeks before the Ramadan.

According to officials, the TCB will sell products at 50 points in Dhaka, 16 points in Chattogram, 10 spots in each of other divisional cities and four places in each district town.

From TCB's sales centres, a buyer will be able to buy maximum 4kg sugar, 2kg lentil and 5 litres of soybean oil.

However, the sale of TCB will remain closed every Friday.

"The TCB will be selling sugar, lentil and soybean oil on 350 trucks across the country, including Dhaka, on the occasion of Ramadan from Wednesday," TCB spokesperson Md Humayun Kabir said.

"We have been selling onion for a long time due to market instability over the unusual price hike of the item. However, onion has not been included on the Ramadan product list," he also said.

Under the programme, the TCB will sell sugar and lentil for Tk50 per kg while soybean oil for Tk80 per litre.

But, dates and chickpeas will be added to the list at the beginning of Ramadan, the official said.

Earlier, the TCB also sold soybean oil, sugar, onion and lentil on the occasion of the Mujib Year.

This year, Ramadan is likely to begin on April 24 in Bangladesh, subject to the sighting of the moon.