A huge rush of people to buy essential items at subsidised rates from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB)-operated trucks was observed in different parts of the capital city on Thursday, like the previous days.
However, many aspirants had to return home empty-handed, as the supply of goods was inadequate compared to the number of queued people.
Apart from low-income group of people, many middle-class people are nowadays queuing up in front of the TCB's trucks to buy essentials at low prices amid sharp price hike of daily commodities in the market.
In recent months, prices of essential commodities went out of the reach of low- and middle-income group of people, putting them in a fix.
Everyday, nearly 75 trucks are selling essential commodities across the capital. But those can hardly meet the requirement of people, who want to procure goods at subsidised rates.
"I waited for three hours on the line, but failed to get goods. In the meantime, the stock is over," said Siddiqur Rahman, 40, in Segunbagicha area on Thursday.
Mr Rahman and 100 more people were found waiting empty-handed with broken hearts near the empty truck.
Another aspirant, Rahela Akter, said poor people come to the TCB trucks to get items at low cost to save some money.
"The government should supply adequate items, so that people do not need to return home empty-handed after standing on the queues for a long period," she added.
Contacted on Thursday, TCB Chairman Ariful Hassan acknowledged the inadequacy in the supply of commodities.
He opined that the number of aspirants goes up instantly when goods are sold at low prices. Besides, some people, who are not in that bad situation, are also standing in the queues.
The TCB chairman said the ongoing sale of commodities would continue with the same volume of goods until Saturday, but the next spell would start with double strength.
Each day some 150 trucks would sell commodities at subsidised rates in the capital from March 6 to March 24.
"Our next target is to supply commodities to people who are in dire straits."
Mr Hassan noted that another spell of sale would start on March 27, which would continue until April 27, where additional commodities like dates and gram would be sold.
Each day some 60,000 families would be covered through 150 trucks, laden with commodities. The two rounds of sale before and during the month of Ramadan would cover some 2.4 million people in the capital, he added.
