Khulna: Crowds are increasing at the government-run TCB truck outlets across Khulna, where commodities are sold at comparatively lower prices during the holy month of Ramadan. People, including lower middle-class and poor, are also increasingly joining the queues every day to buy their essential commodities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, people are coming to the city to purchase these goods, resulting in long queues forming at Golokmoni Shishu Park and elsewhere in the city, with buyers waiting for hours. A truck can sell a package for Taka 590 each to 400 people, including essential commodities such as sugar, oil, pulse, dates, and grams.
The impact of the uncontrolled rise in essential commodity prices is visible in almost every ward of Khulna city. Sheuly Begum, a 60-year-old widow, came to collect essential commodities from Golokmoni Shishu Park in Ward No. 23. She mentioned waiting in line for an hour to buy sugar, pulse, dates, oil, and grams.
Women, including Sufia Khatun and Rexona from the Mirzapore area of Sadar thana in the city, gathered at Golokmoni Shishu Park to buy essential products. Abdul Hamid, a 58-year-old rickshaw puller from Khulna New Market area under Khalishpur, noted that people are now coming not only from the city but also from villages to buy items from the TCB truck. “Over the past month, many new faces have been seen here,” he added.
Long queues were also observed in Daulatpur, Khan Jahan Ali, Khalishpur, and Sonadanga areas, with women, men, and even children waiting in line. Afroza, who queued at the New Market area, said she stood in line from 9:00 am as sales began around 9.30 am. “Even after waiting for hours, we feel relieved if we manage to buy essentials,” she said.
Talking to BSS, Md Humayun Kabir, Regional director of TCB, stated that the essential commodities are being sold during Ramadan at the city’s 15 points every day except on weekly and government holidays. Common people can buy a five-item essential package at Tk 590 from a truck without any TCB card, and this service will continue until before the holy Eid-ul-Fitr. The TCB began selling five essential products at 15 points through trucks from February 15 across Khulna city to provide relief to low-income groups during the holy month of Ramadan.