CHATTOGRAM, Feb 12, 2025 (BSS) - After a lapse of more than one month, the sale of selective essential commodities in open truck by Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) resumed from February 10 in 20 spots in the  city.  
 
Low-income people can buy five commodities that included lentils, sugar, soybean oil, chickpeas and dates at prices lower than the market .
 
A long queue of people of almost all walks of life was seen waiting in all spots, designated for the programme,  which cover major areas of entire metropolis.  
 
More than 150 people including a good number of women with their babies from  middle-aged to elderly people were seen standing in the queue centring a truck at  Khwaza road intersection adjacent to Bahaddarhat in the city at 11:30 am on Wednesday.
 
Low to lower middle income group people expressed their happiness and welcomed the government’s decision to resume the very helpful steps ahead of upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
 
Resumption of open truck sale programme has brought a relief to the people of marginal and limited income group during their struggle with soaring prices of essential commodities.  
 
Standing in a queue, Badar Uddin, a resident of Kharampara, adjacent to Bahaddarhat, told BSS that he is happy to buy goods at low prices.
 
He said, "I am sick, I used to drive a van earlier. Now I can't work much because of asthma. In this situation, I bought some goods at a lower price. It is very useful for me in this time”
 
Another buyer, a middle-aged woman, Ayesha Bibi, came from Taltola, Faridarpara. She stood in line for about three hours and got the goods.
 
Earlier, TCB men sell goods to us after seeing our family card. Now they have opened it for everyone, that's why people are gathering in large numbers now.  I am very happy to get at least some products at a lower price,” Ayesha said .
 
TCB's Chattogram Office Head (Joint Director) Md. Shafiqul Islam said that when the prices of daily essential commodities increased, TCB started selling products at 20 points in port city from October 24 last year.  
 
Shafiqul Islam said the open sales through trucks were stopped on December 31 and it has been resumed from last Monday after one month and 9 days.
 
“TCB products are being sold through truck sales at 20 points in the city every day. A total of 4,000 low-income families, 200 people at each spots, will be able to buy products,” he added.
 
He said that a consumer could buy two kilogram’s (KG) of lentils at TK 60 per kg, one kg of sugar at TK 70, two litres of soybean oil at TK 100 per litre, two kg of chickpeas at TK 60 per kg, and 500 grams of dates at TK 77.50.
 
The complete package consisting of 5 major category commodities is available for a total of 587 TK 50 paisa.
 
Noting that people are buying TCB supplied goods with much eagerness, TCB Joint Director Shafiqul Islam said, programmes are being carried out smoothly.  
 
“We have enough stock and supply of commodities keeping in mind that none waiting at queue is deprived of getting goods and sale will continue up to the Day of Shab-e-Qadr. Rice will also be added to the list of goods within in short time to support the marginal and limited income people,” he said.
 
 He further said that TCB is selling products at a total of 120 spots each day rotationally in six days a week.