Subsidised protein sales begin for 10 lakh families

The government has begun selling essential protein items, including eggs, meat and fish, at subsidised prices during Ramadan to support nearly 10 lakh low-income families.

“It will play a supportive role in alleviating the sufferings of low-income people,” said State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Agriculture and Food Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.

He was speaking yesterday at the inauguration of the programme at the Livestock Research Institute in Dhaka. He said the initiative could be widened in the future.

Apart from assisting poorer households, the state minister said the move would also help keep market prices stable and offer some relief to consumers more broadly.

Under the programme, dressed broiler chicken, pasteurised milk, eggs and beef are being sold at reduced prices for 26 days, until the 25th of Ramadan, through mobile sales vans. Dressed broiler chicken is priced at Tk 245 per kilogramme, pasteurised milk at Tk 80 per litre, eggs at Tk 8 per piece, and beef at Tk 650 per kilogramme.

“During Ramadan, some unscrupulous traders raise prices and low-income people suffer,” said the state minister. He added that the government will also take initiatives to introduce Family Cards, Agriculture Cards and Health Cards as part of its electoral pledges.

Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md Abu Sufian chaired the inauguration.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber and President of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council Mashiur Rahman, were also present.