Ramadan shoppers queue for hours at TCB truck sales in Dhaka

Highlights:

• Low-income group gathers to buy subsidised essentials from TCB trucks
• They wait three to four hours to save Tk300-350
• Edible oil, lentils, sugar, chickpeas, dates sold at trucks
• Each TCB truck serves highest 400 customers per day
• TCB truck sales across country will continue until 12 March

For 65-year-old Abdul Quddus, the wait felt endless as he stood in line for nearly an hour and a half at Hatirpool of the capital today afternoon (28 February), with around 15 people still ahead of him. The elderly tiles shop worker, who looks after a seven-member family on a small income, had come to buy subsidised Ramadan essentials from TCB trucks.

"At this age, working is hard. But I have no choice," he told The Business Standard, his hands trembling slightly when he spoke. "If I can buy rice, lentils and oil here at a lower price, at least I can use the savings to prepare a better iftar."

Walking is painful for him, and standing for long periods is even harder. Yet the line is unavoidable. "If elderly people like me were given priority, it would be less difficult," he lamented.

Marking Ramadan, TCB has started nationwide truck sales of essential commodities. Yesterday alone, 50 locations across the capital carried out the initiative, offering edible oil, dates, lentils, chickpeas and sugar at subsidised rates.

Each buyer can purchase up to two litres of soybean oil, two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram each of sugar and chickpeas, and half a kilogram of dates. Per litre Soybean oil is priced at Tk115, sugar at Tk80, lentils at Tk70, chickpeas at Tk60, and per half kilogram of dates at Tk80. The total cost comes to Tk 590 – nearly Tk 350 less than market rates.

Behind Quddus stood Marzina Begum, who now lives with her elderly parents after separating from her husband. With two younger siblings and ageing parents to care for, she shoulders the responsibility of her household.

"If I don't stand in line, no one will," she said. "My parents cannot wait like this. So I come, even if it's difficult."

After a brief pause, she added quietly, "I can't afford to buy everything. But whatever I get from here brings some relief."

Similar scenes were seen in Baridhara, Gudara Ghat and Khilkhet, where long queues stretched. Many buyers said they wait three to four hours to save Tk300 to Tk350 – a significant amount for low-income families. Often, some return empty-handed, as each truck can serve a maximum of 400 customers per day. At many points, the number turns double.

In Baridhara, Aklima Akter, a private job holder, was returning home with her purchases. "I've never bought TCB products before," she said. "I stood in line around 11am and got them around 12:45pm. Today, the crowd is smaller, yet it still took this long. I came because it helps reduce expenses."

Md Shahjahan, owner of Shahjahan Store, which was responsible for sales at the Baridhara point, said distribution begins around 10am and continues until stocks run out. "We can serve 400 people a day. Many have to go back as demand is always high."

Highlighting challenges in ensuring fairness, he said, "Sometimes three or four people come together and try to purchase multiple times. We try to verify as much as possible because taking more than once deprives others."

According to TCB sources, the programme began on 17 February and will continue until 12 March. Nationwide, 450 TCB trucks are operating daily, except on holidays, to serve low-income consumers.

Each truck is allocated supplies for 400 buyers, with a target of reaching around 35 lakh consumers and distributing 23,000 tonnes of essential goods during Ramadan.