State Minister for Commerce, Ahasanul Islam Titu, has assured that there will be an ample supply of essential commodities during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan likely to begin on March 11.

“India has given consent to supply onions and sugar to us. We hope that we will be able to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities from other neighboring countries,” said the junior minister.

The tariff on four products has already been lowered as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's instructions in a bid to keep the market during Ramadan to contain price hikes, he told reporters after exchanging views with local Awami League leaders and activists at his residence in Deldua area of Tangail on Friday.

He said the government will undertake appropriate measures so that the traders cannot indulge in monopoly business ahead of Ramadan.  

“We have approximately 1.7 million tonnes of rice in our stock. Besides, the farmers have achieved a bumper harvest of Aman crops this season,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman said that the government is focusing on the entire market management system to ensure fair prices of animal proteins during Ramadan.

Prices of animal proteins including meat, egg, milk and dressed broiler will be under the purchasing capacity of common people, he said while addressing a discussion meeting at his ministry office in Dhaka.

Rahman said the government would set up 25 sale points in the Dhaka city corporation area to ensure the availability of meat, egg, milk and dressed broiler for the people of lower income groups.