Dhaka, Feb 10, (V7N) - After a hiatus of one month and nine days, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has resumed its initiative to sell essential goods at subsidized prices through mobile trucks for low-income families. This program, aimed at providing affordable products, will begin operating today, Monday, in various areas of Dhaka city and Chattogram. The TCB issued a statement on Sunday confirming the restart of this program.
 
The mobile truck sales program allows any consumer to buy goods directly from the truck by standing in line. Additionally, TCB mentioned that the program will soon expand to other divisional cities and select districts, bringing the initiative to a broader population across the country. This move is in response to the growing demand for affordable goods in the wake of rising market prices.
 
Apart from this, the TCB continues its initiative to sell subsidized products, such as edible oil and lentils, to low-income families who are holders of TCB's smart cards. For those without smart cards, products will also be available for purchase through the mobile trucks at subsidized prices. The available products in the trucks will include essential goods like edible oil, lentils, sugar, chickpeas, and dates.
 
The TCB has set limits on the quantity of each product a consumer can buy. Each person can purchase up to two liters of edible oil (either soybean or palm oil), two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of sugar, two kilograms of chickpeas, and 500 grams of dates. As part of the program, the sale of chickpeas and dates will be specifically geared toward the Ramadan period. The prices of these goods are as follows: Taka 100 per liter of oil, Taka 60 per kilogram of lentils, Taka 70 per kilogram of sugar, Taka 60 per kilogram of chickpeas, and Taka 155 for 500 grams of dates.
 
This program initially started in late October 2023 when the government aimed to alleviate the financial burden on people due to soaring commodity prices. In response to these rising prices, the TCB began distributing essential products through mobile trucks in 50 locations in Dhaka and 20 in Chattogram. The initiative was temporarily suspended after December 31, 2023, but has now been reintroduced to meet the ongoing need for affordable essential goods.
 
According to TCB, this initiative has been well-received by the public, and consumers are expected to benefit from the continuation of the program, especially as the prices of daily necessities continue to remain high in the market. The government hopes that these measures will help lower-income families better cope with the rising cost of living.
 
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