Bashir urges business community to join hands with TCB

Staff Reporter :

Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin has called on businessmen to increase their involvement in the operations of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to support millions of underprivileged families across the country.

Speaking at a business dialogue titled “Trade with TCB” held at the Army Golf Club in Dhaka on Wednesday, Bashir emphasized the need for private sector collaboration to ensure transparency, efficiency, and better targeting of state-subsidized commodities.

Bashir criticised past irregularities, saying, “I’ve seen TCB cards in the hands of jute mill owners and five-story building owners. This system was deeply flawed.” He linked such mismanagement to the “criminalisation” that plagued various sectors prior to the August 5 revolution.

Vowing reforms, he stated, “I want to bring TCB to a rational level during my tenure.” The government, he noted, spends Tk 12,000–14,000 crore to support one crore families, and this money must be utilized efficiently, with genuine beneficiaries receiving the support.

“We want to expand procurement and improve targeting, and for that, we need active participation from the business community,” Bashir said. “This will create trade opportunities and help people get their due support.”

Bashir credited recent efforts for the relatively stable market during the last Ramadan, noting that competition had returned and public trust had improved.

Also speaking at the event were Dr. Nazneen Kawsar Chowdhury, Secretary (Routine Charge) of the Ministry of Commerce, TCB Chairman Brigadier General Mohammad Faisal Azad, and several senior officials, including SM Shaheen Parvez, Md. Abed Ali, and Al-Amin Hawlader.

Business leaders from across Bangladesh attended the session, reflecting growing interest in public-private collaboration to enhance food security and trade efficiency.