RANGPUR, Nov 24, 2019 (BSS) – Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB)
today started selling onion at Taka 45 per kg at five points in the
divisional city and two upazilas of Rangpur bringing huge relief to common
people.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan formally inaugurated selling of onion
by TCB at a function held on his office premises as the chief guest.
With Rangpur Regional Office Chief of TCB Md. Shujauddowla in the chair,
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Syed Enamul Kabir attended the
function as special guest.
Shujauddowla said, “We started selling onions using trucks at Shapla
Square, Press Club, City Bhaban, DC Office and CO Bazaar points in the city
and Kawnia and Pirgachha upazila towns of Rangpur district from today.”
One kg of onion was sold to each of the buyers at these points from trucks
containing 1,000 kg of onion each at seven points of the city and two upazila
towns of Rangpur today.
“We have 1,326 TCB-approved dealers in all eight districts of Rangpur
division, including 96 dealers in Rangpur city, and will increase the number
of selling points in future, if necessary, at more points of the division,”
Shujauddowla added.
He said onion shipments have already started reaching the country by air
and sea routes with special initiative of the government from Egypt, Turkey,
China and Pakistan to keep the onion supply normal and ensure its fair price
through the TCB.
Talking to BSS at Press Club premises, rickshaw-puller Lalu Mian said he
was happy after buying one kg onion at Taka 45 per kg, four times lower than
the price of the same in the open market.
He suggested for increasing the number of onion-selling trucks at more
points of the city so that common people could purchase the same spending
less time in queues.
Day-labourer Afsana Begum and poor housewife Maksuda Khatun said they
could purchase one kg onion each at Taka 45 after standing in the queues at
Shapla Square point in the city.
Similarly, farm-labourers Amir Hossain and Babul Mian bought one kg onion
each at Kawnia upazila town and rickshaw-pullers Faruk Hossain and Mohir
Uddin purchased one kg onion each at Pirgachha upazila on the first day
today.
The buyers termed the government initiative of selling onions at Taka 45
per kg through the TCB as a time-befitting step and hoped that the price of
the essential commodity would become normal.