The State-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) on Thursday started selling five daily essentials ahead of Ramadan.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi inaugurated the sale of five items — edible oil, sugar, dates, chickpeas and lentils — formally at a function at Tejgaon in the capital.

These essential items will be sold in two phases at subsidised rates among 1 crore low-income families across the country on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

Addressing the inaugural event, the minister said the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working sincerely to alleviate the sufferings of the low-income people of the country.

Every month, oil, pulse and sugar are being sold at subsidised prices to one crore families in the country and following this, on the occasion of holy Ramadan, dates and chickpeas will be sold in Dhaka city, he said.

TBC is selling sugar at Tk 60 per kg, lentils at Tk 70 per kg, soybean oil at Tk 110 per kg, chickpeas at Tk 50 per kg and dates at Tk 100 per kg (in Dhaka city alone).

The second instalment of the essentials will be sold next month.

The card holders can buy the five goods at subsidised rates from the TCB's specific sales points and dealers' outlets.

A card holder can buy 2 litres of soybean oil, 2 kg of lentils, sugar, chickpea and 1 kg of date at a time.

TCB Chairman Brig Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman was present on the occasion.