Dhaka, Sep 29 (V7N) – Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin announced that five additional products, including tea, salt, detergent, and two types of soap, will be added to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) product list from next November.

He made the announcement during a meeting on the selection and activation of TCB beneficiaries at the Ministry of Commerce conference room on Monday. The meeting was attended by officials from Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation, Narayanganj City Corporation, Gazipur City Corporation, as well as Additional Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Executive Officers from neighboring districts.

Sheikh Bashiruddin said the government provides around Tk 5,000 crore in subsidies to run TCB activities, which helps maintain equality in market demand and supply. He emphasized that the new products, combined with ongoing TCB sales, will provide relief to low-income families and help control inflation.

He also stressed the importance of accurate beneficiary selection for the TCB Smart Family Card, urging officials to ensure that the real poor and vulnerable are included in the social safety net. “If this can be done, Bangladesh will develop into a welfare-oriented state,” he added.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman noted that beneficiary identification remains a major challenge, and the pace of activities in the City Corporations has been somewhat slow. He expressed hope that the work would be completed soon.

At the meeting, officials also shared the latest status of TCB’s Smart Family Card. Currently, there are 6,034,316 active cards, with 339,454 cards awaiting activation.

Other speakers included Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Ejaz, Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary (Export) Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, and TCB Chairman Brigadier General Mohammad Faisal Azad.

END/SMA/AJ