RAJARHAT, KURIGRAM, Feb 26: With the onset of the holy month of Ramadan, demand for daily necessities in Razarhat Upazila has surged several times over.
To help curb price hikes, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is selling essential goods at subsidised rates, but residents face long queues and hours of waiting to collect products.
At TCB outlets across the upazila, dealers are selling rice, sugar, soya bean oil, lentils, and chickpeas at fixed prices. This year, a package has been priced at Tk 600. On Wednesday, hundreds of TCB cardholders were already lining up before 8 am outside the Razarhat market point. Many said that due to high market prices for rice, oil, sugar, and chickpeas, TCB supplies remain their only affordable option. Some also suggested that the inclusion of dates for Iftar would have been helpful during Ramadan.
Seventy-year-old Khoka Mamud, waiting in line, said, "I came early to get in line. Expenses rise during Ramadan, so TCB supplies are our only relief. We have no choice but to wait in line to get goods at a lower price."
Sixty-two-year-old Shaher Banu, another customer, said, "We women have to come early and stand in line to pay for TCB goods. It's very difficult for us."
Monu Mia, a dealer in Chakirpashar Union, said the union has only one TCB dealer, and goods are distributed over three days. However, rising demand during Ramadan has resulted in crowding, making management challenging.
Razarhat residents fear that if the situation continues throughout Ramadan, the hardship for ordinary consumers will increase.
Razarhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said the upazila has approximately 21,386 active TCB cardholders, served by 13 dealers who are responsible for distributing goods at fixed prices.
He added that during Ramadan, pressure on dealers rises slightly, but all dealers have been instructed to increase manpower. The UNO also noted that police or village guards may be called in if queue management becomes chaotic.
