BM News:
Bangladesh’s commerce minister, Tipu Munshi, said on Wednesday that the government is considering proposing to reduce tariffs on essential goods for Ramadan.
“We are thinking of proposing to reduce tariffs to keep the prices of essential goods normal during Ramadan,” Munshi said at the inauguration of the TCB’s family smart card distribution and sale of affordable goods at the Nabisko intersection in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
Asked if tariffs on pulses, lentils, edible oil, onions, dates, and sugar would be reduced for Ramadan, Munshi said, “We cannot reduce tariffs. We can propose. We are thinking of proposing to reduce tariffs to keep the prices of essential goods normal during Ramadan.”
Munshi claimed that the price of potatoes has fallen in the market. He said that potatoes are being sold for 40 to 45 taka in the capital and for 35 to 37 taka in the countryside. He said that new potatoes have arrived in the market and that the price of potatoes will return to normal within a month.
The commerce minister said that the distribution of one million smart cards to people across the country will be completed by June. He said that 20 lakh smart cards will be distributed by December.
“On the instructions of the Prime Minister, food items are being sold at affordable prices to one million people across the country,” Munshi said. “In order to prevent the general public from suffering due to the rising prices of essential goods, these goods are being sold through smart cards.”
In response to a question about people returning empty-handed after not being able to get products from trucks, Munshi said, “We have some limitations here. Those who have cards are getting them. 300 people are given products from one truck. But there are more people here than that. Even then, we are trying to increase the number of trucks.”
Also present at the event were Commerce Ministry Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, TCB Chairman Brigadier General Md. Ariful Haque, and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Ward 25 Councillor Abdullah Al Mansur.
