The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) started selling essential commodities through open-truck sales at six locations in Rangpur city yesterday. However, consumers expressed frustration over increased prices of soybean oil and sugar, alongside allegations of underweight products being supplied by dealers.
Customers alleged that the price of soybean oil has been increased by Tk 30 per litre, while sugar prices have gone up by Tk 10 per kilogram. Soybean oil was reportedly being sold at Tk 130 per litre, with buyers paying Tk 260 for two litres.
During a visit to the TCB sales point in front of Cooperative Market near Rangpur Press Club around 1:00 pm, several buyers complained that lentils and sugar were being sold below the specified weight.
Mahmuda Begum, a resident of the city’s Shalbon area, said she purchased two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of sugar and two litres of soybean oil. After returning home, she found nearly 200 grams less lentils and around 100 grams less sugar than the stated quantity.
Atiar Rahman of Guptapara made similar complaints, claiming that the lentils and sugar were packed in polythene bags beforehand and not weighed in front of customers.
Consumers also voiced strong dissatisfaction over the increase in essential commodity prices, saying the rising costs were worsening the hardship of low-income families.
Dulal, manager of TCB dealer operating beside Press Club, denied the allegations, insisting that products were being sold with accurate weight.
Attempts to contact officials at the Rangpur TCB office for comments were unsuccessful, as no official agreed to speak on the issue.
