As a pilot project in the capital, the government intends to sell some vegetables to low-income groups at discounted prices.
The plan calls for buying the vegetables—which include potatoes, onions, and green chilies—directly from farmers and selling them at specified locations in low-income neighborhoods through open-market sales (OMS).
We have already fixed at least ten of these spots. There would be more selling points if the pilot project was successful.
The agriculture ministry’s current workload will determine when to implement the plan.
Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser, and a few other advisers made the decision at a special meeting yesterday at the chief adviser’s official residence.
The meeting took place in the face of intense criticism and worries about the rapidly rising costs of necessities.
Eggs and a number of vegetables have seen sharp price increases recently.
As a result, the government has chosen to lower tariffs on a number of necessities and import more eggs.
Recently, the National Board of Revenue lowered the sugar tariff. The National Board of Revenue reduced the import duty on sugar from thirty percent to fifteen percent on October 9. Refined sugar costs have decreased by Tk 14.26 per kg, while the import cost of raw sugar has decreased by Tk 11.18 per kg.
The government also plans to reduce the tariffs on other goods, but it has not yet disclosed the specifics.
The chief adviser also directed the task force in charge of the market to take action against anyone who organized syndicates to manipulate prices during yesterday’s meeting.
Additionally, he gave the commerce adviser instructions to routinely meet with the main importers of necessities.
When questioned, a source from the agriculture ministry told The Daily Star, “The high cost of necessities is making it difficult for ordinary people, especially those with low incomes. This situation is known to the government. Unexpected events, such as the recent floods, are causing the vegetable market to spiral out of control. “The government is thinking of offering subsidized vegetable sales as a solution.”
He continued, “The necessary support for this initiative will come from the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, and Department of Agricultural Marketing.”
Fair prices for fish, meat, and milk were a goal of the previous Awami League government.
This is the first time the current administration has adopted this strategy since taking office on August 8. It intends to subsidize the sale of particular goods.
According to additional sources, the road transport and bridges ministry will send BRTC trucks to carry potatoes and onions from Munshiganj and Faridpur and Pabna, respectively, to the capital from vegetable production hubs.
During yesterday’s meeting, Yunus emphasized the importance of making every effort to ensure that the necessities are within reach. In order to ensure that his advisors make prompt decisions in this regard, he also sent them a strong directive.
The advisors for commerce, law, industry, and road transport and bridges divisions were among those in attendance. Advisors for commerce, law, and industry were Asif Nazrul, Adilur Rahman Khan, Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, and agriculture, Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
