GOPALGANJ, Mar 5: Low-income residents in Haridaspur Union of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila have expressed relief after being able to purchase essential commodities at subsidised prices through a truck sale programme run by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
The sale took place on Tuesday afternoon in front of the Union Parishad office, where dealer Messrs Zayed Traders sold TCB products through a mobile truck.
As part of the government's special programme marking the holy month of Ramadan, TCB is selling essential commodities at affordable prices, including edible oil, sugar, lentils, chickpeas and dates.
Under the programme, each buyer is allowed to purchase a maximum of two litres of soybean oil, two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of chickpeas, one kilogram of sugar and half a kilogram of dates from the truck.
The prices have been fixed at Tk 115 per litre of soybean oil, Tk 80 per kilogram of sugar, Tk 70 per kilogram of lentils, Tk 60 per kilogram of chickpeas and Tk 160 per kilogram of dates.
Abdul Karim Sheikh, a resident of Haridaspur Village, said the products are being sold at much lower prices compared to the market.
"I bought two litres of oil, one kilogram of sugar, two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of chickpeas and half a kilogram of dates. Altogether it cost Tk 590, which helps our family save a lot of money," he said.
Shariful Islam, proprietor of Messrs Zayed Traders, said they sold products to around 400 families on the day in line with government directives.
"We are ensuring proper management and verifying the identity of buyers so that genuine low-income people can benefit from the programme," he said.
He added that the demand for essential commodities increases significantly during Ramadan, and efforts are being made to maintain an orderly environment during the truck sale operations.
Local residents said the prices of daily essentials have risen in recent times, making the TCB initiative a welcome relief for low-income families. They also urged authorities to continue such programmes regularly.
Sources concerned said the TCB truck sale programme will continue in phases across different unions of the upazila until March 12.
