People’s conscience doesn’t stop them from taking things from the poor!
The incident took place in front of a TCB truck at Begunbari Lipikar intersection in Tejgaon in the capital around 3 pm on Thursday. Hazrat Enterprise is selling soybean oil and pulses at affordable prices here. It is learnt that Monowar is a government employee. He is really helpless due to the pressure of inflation. He said, ‘If my stomach is not full, what can I do with my conscience? But when people take the oil from my hands, there is nothing I can do. I was forced to take the money back.’
The prices of daily necessities including rice, pulses, oil, sugar are high in the market. Despite high inflation for a long time, people’s income has not increased. As a result, many people like Monowar are now buying TCB products to manage their families. Here, there is no longer any opportunity to be separated as poor. Many homeowners are sending domestic workers to buy the products.
TCB sells 2 liters of soybean oil and 2 kg of lentils per person per day. Soybean oil costs 100 taka per liter and lentils 60 taka per kg. Soybean oil is now 175 taka per kg and lentils 105-110 taka in the market. If a family buys both products, it saves 240 to 250 taka. If you increase the number of members, the savings also increases. That is why many people have been waiting in line since early morning for the truck. After the sale starts, they are joining the ‘war’ in a real way.
TCB officials said that they are selling 800 kg of pulses and 800 liters of soybean oil through each truck a day. 400 people are able to buy the products from each truck. The beneficiaries of the 50 trucks in the two city corporations of the capital are around 20,000. Even so, the sale of rice, flour, potatoes and onions has been stopped due to lack of supply since December.
On Thursday, while visiting at least 10 spots including Rampura TV Center, Hatirjheel Madhubagh Bridge, Chowdhurypara Petrol Pump, Kadam Fountain adjacent to the National Press Club, Matsya Bhaban, Begunbari, Satrasta, it was learned that almost half of the people are not getting the products every day. They are returning with a sense of disappointment as the specified supply has run out. Almost everywhere, it can be seen that truck workers are writing serial numbers with markers and placing them on their hands to maintain discipline among the buyers.
Rowshan Ara Begum, who is over 60, is in line with a bag in one hand and money in the other. Tired from standing for a long time, she sat down in the line. At that time, there were at least 42 people in the line with her, both men and women. Suddenly, the salesperson said, there is no point in pushing and shoving. Only six people can take it. Hearing this, Rowshan Ara stood up. She came to the truck, hugged the legs of the salesperson, who was about her grandson’s age, and started crying. He said, ‘Father, I have come after giving up my job. Don’t send me back. There is no one, my father.’ The work was done. As his heart melted, he handed over soybean oil and pulses to the old woman despite being beaten by others. Rowshan Ara returned with satisfaction. But many others had to return in a depressed mood.
TCB spokesperson Humayun Kabir told Samakal that they are providing products according to their capacity. Rice sales are closed due to the ministry not supplying it. And as per the rules, potatoes and onions are not being sold due to the increased supply in the market.
The truck is standing at Satrasta intersection, it is exactly 3:15 on the clock. There are 12 bottles of soybean oil. But there are still 37 men and women in line. Salesman Md. Biplob said, you will get 10 more. After that, the sky collapsed on everyone’s heads! Mahbub Hasan sighed and said, I ran here because I ran out of Begunbari. I didn’t get it. The day is over.
Asma Begum is sitting with a cloth bag in her hand, wiping her eyes, next to the U-turn opposite Rampura TV building. There is a commotion as the sale of TCB products has ended. It is not clear why Asma is crying. She said, “Hey, I have come after skipping the two morning and afternoon services. Everyone is pushing and shoving, my knees are hurting. I didn’t buy anything, I didn’t do the two-day service.”
Here, Bashir Uddin, a TCB product seller, said that after giving it to 400 people, they have nothing to do. Everyone comes when they see the car. They are not informed in advance.
Here, Sabuj Mia, a schoolboy, says, “My mother is sick, so I didn’t go to the house of the mains. She sends me to buy. I can’t even reach the tarak for the big mains. If I go home empty-handed, I won’t get any food.”
Numerous people are standing in front of the TCB truck next to the Hatirjheel Madhubagh Bridge. Many are also sitting on the road divider. Some said that the sale started a little before 10 am. Many did not receive the products even in the afternoon. Daily wage laborers Khairul Islam and Ambia Begum complained, “The farmers do not come to the mango orchards and Gabtola in Moghbazar. The farmers also come here day after day. It is difficult to get the mangoes and waste time. I could not work, I could not work. The Thais are standing on their backs. They give me paper with the number written on it, but they do not give me the products.”
The upper and middle classes are now also flocking to buy TCB products. The middle class is standing in line wearing masks and scarves. The upper class is sending doormen, housekeepers and others. One of them, who did not want to be named, said, “Even though I am a government employee, I am now forced to buy TCB products. I have been standing in line since 10 am instead of going to the office. I lied at home and said that I am going on an urgent matter. I have been buying products from trucks for the past few years due to the increase in the prices of goods. I feel very helpless.
In Madhubagh, vendor Masud Parvez is writing serial numbers with a marker pen. The numbers are being cut off with the products. Shanto, a 12-year-old boy, works in a house. The tenant sent him to buy TCB products. Shanto and a few others of his age came with the same purpose. They were sent from nearby houses. According to these boys, not only the tenants but also the owners of the house are buying TCB products. They send the janitor and the maid. At this time, Karimon Nesa, who is in his sixties, said, “The system of giving Aizka this writing is very good. The day before yesterday (Tuesday) there was a fight in front of Pallima School. There, Aisa would tear off the numbers and take it again.”
Economists say that in the current situation, it is important to increase the supply and number of TCB products. If necessary, the capacity of TCB needs to be increased by spending unused ADP funds. In this country, the price of everything increases during Ramadan. For this, they are advising the government to prepare now.
Dr. MA Razzak, chairman of private research organization Rapid, told Samakal that high inflation is happening now. People are chasing TCB trucks because the prices of goods are high in the market. As a result, it is important to increase the capacity of TCB. If necessary, TCB products can be imported by helping medium-sized importing companies open LCs.
According to the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) of the Ministry of Planning, in the first five months of the current fiscal year (July-November), only 12.29 percent of ADP has been implemented, which is the lowest in a decade. MA Razzak believes that the new government has no budget for TCB. As a result, many people will benefit if they increase the capacity of TCB with some unused money from ADP.
