State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu announced today that the government plans to maintain the provision of essential items to common and low-income people at subsidized and fair prices. This will be achieved through the establishment of permanent shops for dealers of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

"Currently, around one crore family cardholders benefit from essential commodities provided by the TCB at subsidized rates. We aim to expand this coverage in the future," said Titu during a post-budget press conference held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

The press conference was moderated by Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, who addressed various queries from reporters. The event was attended by high-profile officials including Planning Minister Major General (retd) Abdus Salam, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Agriculture Minister Md Abdus Shaheed, LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam, Housing and Public Works Minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr. Mashiur Rahman, State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, and Finance Division Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder.

Other attendees included State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat, various secretaries, and senior officials.

Highlighting recent fiscal measures, Titu mentioned that the government has reduced the duty on imports of essential items like rice, lentils, and chickpeas from 2 percent to 1 percent. This initiative aims to keep the prices of these items at a manageable level.

He further informed that the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) will continue market monitoring as an ongoing process. Efforts to reduce import and supplementary duties on several products are intended to impact market prices positively.

Acknowledging the persistent high food inflation due to various factors, Titu assured continued efforts to lower overall inflation, including food inflation. He noted that the prices of imported sugar and edible oil have decreased compared to the previous year and emphasized that the Ministry of Commerce will maintain its market monitoring operations to ensure stability.