Hundreds of people were seen waiting infront of the TCB trucks at many places in the wee hours of Sunday as the first phase of TCB sale started yesterday.
The TCB sale has been started with a view to comforting the poor people providing essentials at a lower price.
People, who got products after waiting hours, expressed their happiness. However, some people claimed that they didn't get the products due to high demand.
Jahanara, who purchased TCB products at Khilgaon said, "I was wondering whether I will get products or not, but finally I got it."
At Rampura in the capital, distribution of TCB products finished within couple of hours as the demand was very high.
Saddam, a rickshaw puller, said, "I stopped pulling rickshaw for half days to buy some products at a lower price from the TCB truck. After waiting for a long time in the queue, I did not get products. Now what will I do?"
Long queues of people were seen behind the TCB trucks at almost every point in the city. In most places the sale of TCB goods ended before noon.
The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started its truck sale activity again after being closed for three days, TCB spokesperson Humayun Kabir told Bangladesh Post.
He said TCB truck sale goods will be available at 139 points across the capital.
"As many people do not know at which points those products are available for them therefore we have published a fresh list of TCB truck sale point addresses," he added.
According to the list, TCB's trucks are selling goods every day at 59 locations of 54 wards in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and 77 locations of 75 wards in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Due to the rising price of essential commodities, people queue at TCB truck sales increasing day by day. Few families bring multiple members in the hope of getting more products.
Government activities like TCB, OMS are going on to provide relief to the low and middle-income people. However, the demands are on the rise.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said, "We have taken initiatives to provide TCB goods to around one crore people. This will ultimately help five crore people of the country."
However, people often claim that they have to wait for TCB trucks. Dealers said they also have to wait at TCB's warehouse to load their truck. As a result, the trucks go to the selling point bit late.
TCB truck sale products include two liters of soybean oil at Tk 110 per liter, two kg of sugar at Tk 55 per kg, two kg of lentils at Tk 65 per kg and two kg of gram at Tk 50 per kg.
As per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, TCB products sale at subsidized prices to one crore people across the country has started.
Senior Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh as the chief guest inaugurated the TCB truck sale program at the Haque Steel Mills at Station Road, Fatulla, Narayanganj on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Manjurul Hafiz presided over the function while Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce (IIT) AHM Safiquzzaman, Chairman of TCB Brigadier General Md. Ariful Haque were present among others.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh, the chief guest at the inaugural function, said, "Under the direction of the Prime Minister, TCB products are being sold to one crore low-income people across the country. The first phase has started today."
"Our second phase of sale will be started during Ramadan. Three products are being providing today. These are- Two kg of sugar and lentils, two liters of oil per person. These products will be distributed to one crore families across the country by March 31," he further said.
"The price of onion in the market is low now, so we did not include it. We are distributing the expensive products in the market," he said.
This time the product is being given three times more than the other time.
"We have made list of people with the help of local representatives so that the real people get the benefit. Here the product is being delivered through card. It is not possible for one person to take the product more than once," Tapan Kanti Ghosh said.
