DHAKA: Despite the first week of holy month of Ramadan is about to end, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has yet to supply essential commodities to its dealers.

A TCB source said Corporation’s 650 registered dealers of total 1900 have received essential commodities till Monday.
 
On the other hand, the dealers complained that they came to collect commodities lately as they had been informed late.

Source said TCB would provide essential commodities in three phases to dealers in order to control the market prices of essentials during Ramadan. In its first phase, many dealers did not get commodities till Monday.

A TCB official, however, said all the dealers were not communicated in the first phase.

When visited, TCB chairman Khalilur Rahman avoided question from banglanews24.com.bd. He did not even respond to phones.

Chief Officer of TCB Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal told banglanews24.com.bd, “Everyone was informed through advertisement.  We are ready to supply commodities. It is sad that the dealers in the 21st century wait for official letters,” he said adding, “Everybody knows our postal system.”  

A dealer from Netrakona district, Atiqur Rahman said, “The dealers who came from areas beyond 50 kilometers from the capital, did not get commodities on the first day.”

Meanwhile, many dealers denied to taking commodities as the prices of gram and pulse were similar to the market.

The price of gram was fixed Tk 37 and Masur pulse Tk71. Sugar and edible oil will be sold at Tk 45 and Tk 78 each kilogram.

BDST: 2045 HRS, AUGUST 16, 2010.