Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started sale of onions in the open market for the first time in Chattogram as onion crisis hit the country on Tuesday.
Onions are being sold at Tk 45 per kg in the open markets to bring down the price of this widely consumed item in markets.
TCB's Chattoggram Regional Office launched the programme in front of Kotwali, Bayazid, Pahartali, Halishahar, Bandar and EPZ police stations from 11am on Tuesday.
"Onions are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis at six spots including Kotwali, Bayezid, Pahartali, Halishahar, Bandar and Dampara police lines in Chattogram," said Jamal Uddin Ahmed, TCB's Chittagong regional chief. Asked how long such an operation would take place, he said, "Our objective is to control the market. The program will continue as long as possible. No specific date was specified.
A consumer can buy a maximum of one kg onion from the TCB trucks, he added. Long queues were seen to buy onions from TCB's truck. The lower-income people are happy to buy onions at a fair price from the open market, he added.
Meanwhile, a huge number of crowd were spotted at TCB onion sales sites at low prices. Many customers who came to buy onions from TCB said that onion market has been heated for a long time. So, they were demanding the sale of TCB onions at various times. They are finally getting a lot of relief as the programme has started.