The government on Thursday started selling various essential commodities like milk, egg and meat at fair prices in the city's 20 places so that people can afford to purchase those essentials during the holy month of Ramadan.
As per the government decision, beef is being sold at Taka 640 per kg, mutton at Taka 940 per kg, dressed boiler at Taka 340 per kg while milk at Taka 80 per litre and per piece egg at Taka 10.
People, who are reaping benefit from the government initiative, are found to be happy.
The sale of the products will continue everyday from 9:00am to 5:00pm until the 28th day of the holy month of Ramadan.
The 20 selling points are: Abdul Gani Road, Mirpur's 60-feet Road, Maternal and Child Health Training Institute in Azimpur, Khamarbari, Japan Garden City in Mohammadpur, Noyabazar in Old Dhaka, Arambagh, Notun Bazar, Kalshi in Mirpur, Khilgaon Railgate, Lucas mor in Nakhalpara, Kitchen Market in Segunbagicha, Bosila in Mohammadpur, Diyabari in Uttara, Jatrabari, Gabtoli, Hazaribagh, Korail Slum in Banani, Kamrangirchar and Rampura.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim inaugurated the programme on the premises of Department of Livestock on Thursday.
Addressing the opening of the sales programme, Rezaul Karim said the ministry has taken the steps to sell the products as part of the efforts to keep prices of meat, milk and egg stable and help common people meet their protein and nutrition requirements.
"The prices will change according to the market situation . . . it may get reduced, but will not increase,' he said.
The minister said, “Mobile courts, the Directorate of National Consumer Right Protection (DNCRP) and other agencies concerned of the government have started taking action against those who cause sufferings to people by earning extra profit.”
He urged the traders to sell products at an affordable price for mass people.
The minister also said, “The government is running this program for the benefit of the mass people, not for the benefit of the government.”
He further said that the government has reports that there is adequate meat production in the country. There is sufficient number of cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep to meet the demand for meat in the country.
