TDS Desk:

At the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has launched its “truck sale” program nationwide, offering essential commodities at subsidised prices.

Under the initiative, consumers can purchase sugar, lentils, edible oil, chickpeas and dates at prices significantly lower than the open market. The lower prices have drawn large crowds, with buyers gathering in long queues around TCB trucks.

However, some customers have complained of harassment and disorder while trying to make purchases. Vendors, on the other hand, blame the chaos on limited supplies compared to overwhelming demand.

On Sunday, two women fell onto the road amid a rush to buy goods from a TCB truck in the Khalpar area of Sector 12 in Uttara, Dhaka. The incident went viral on social media throughout the day.

Eyewitnesses said disorder broke out twice over queue management after the truck arrived. At one point, when authorities attempted to move the truck away, several men and women reportedly clung to the back of the vehicle. In the commotion, two women lost control and fell onto the street. The truck later left the area, leaving many waiting customers without products.

TCB distributor Rezaul Karim said that far more people line up than the number of allocated packages available per truck, resulting in daily rushes and disorder.

The truck sale program began on February 17 and will continue until March 12 in observance of Ramadan. Buyers can save around Tk 350 if they purchase the allotted quantity of goods from a truck. While this savings are significant for low-income families, many customers — particularly women — have to endure long hours standing in the sun to obtain the products.

During the tenure of the Awami League government, the “Family Card” system was introduced following criticism over long queues. Initially, authorities announced plans to distribute one crore (10 million) cards. However, allegations of favoritism and corruption emerged in the distribution process. After a review under the interim government, the number of active cards was reduced to 6.6 million.

Alongside distribution through Family Cards, TCB continues open-market truck sales for those who are not covered. The current Ramadan truck sale is part of that effort.

Analysts say persistent high inflation and shrinking household incomes are driving the surge in demand for subsidized goods. Recent reports by the World Bank and various research organizations have also highlighted rising poverty and income inequality in the country.

According to TCB, 450 mobile trucks are operating daily across the country. Although each truck carries supplies for around 400 people on average, in many locations twice as many people queue up, leading to frequent disorder and public suffering.