In January, only 5.7 million smart cardholders will be able to buy subsidized products from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). Previously, this facility was available to 10 million families, but now 4.3 million cardholders have effectively been excluded.

Until now, TCB provided a general paper card for product purchases, but they have now switched to distributing products through smart cards. The smart card distribution program was launched yesterday in Tejgaon, Dhaka, by Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin. He stated that only the new smart cards will be used for TCB's marketing operations going forward.

During the previous government’s tenure, one million family cards were issued for TCB’s product distribution, but there were widespread allegations of irregularities. After the interim government took charge, they decided to investigate these irregularities. Following a review, 4.3 million cardholders were excluded, and smart cards have now been distributed to the remaining 5.7 million families.

TCB officials said that families with multiple cards, those who were wealthy but still on the list, or those with incorrect details, have been removed from the new list. To date, 5.7 million smart cards have been distributed, and the printing of an additional 600,000 cards is underway.

This month, cardholders can purchase two liters of soybean oil at 100 Taka per liter, two kilograms of lentils at 60 Taka per kilogram, and one kilogram of sugar at 70 Taka. Rice was previously on the TCB sales list, but no rice has been sold as of yesterday. Rice distribution will begin today.