The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has sought line ministries’ help to ease production, transportation and supply of essential items like baby food and medical equipment during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The items high on priority include water, edible oil, rice, onion, sugar, garlic, ginger, baby food, lentils, salt and medical equipment. It has recently requested the entities to take all necessary measures to ensure quick production, import, transportation and delivery of goods to keep the supply chain stable, officials said.
The ministry, however, said all the tasks would be completed through abiding by the existing health safety guidelines, they added. A commerce ministry official said, “We’ve recently sent letters to home and shipping ministries, National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Bank, Armed Forces Division, Chattogram port and Inland Port Authority.
They have been requested to take necessary actions to this effect. “We’ve already initiated to keep the supply of all essential items stable throughout the year, including during the current Covid-19 pandemic,” he mentioned. At present, both supplies and prices of various kitchen stuff remain stable in the domestic market, the official continued.
The prices and supply situation are now good position, he maintained. The government has taken steps to purchase more than 0.121 million tonnes of different key items before the Ramadan in the interests of commoners, according to a source concerned. As part of this, 50,000 tonnes of edible oil, 30,000 tonnes of onion and 30,000 tonnes of sugar will be collected from local and global markets, he said.
A total of 3,000 tonnes of lentils, 8,000 tonnes of gram and 500 tonnes of date will also be stockpiled. The source said the procurement of these items is about to complete soon.
