Milk, eggs, meat at subsidised rates sold out in 40 mins on first day!

It was a blur of bodies and a flurry of activity.

And then within 40 minutes, it was all over. Around 60-70 kilogrammes of beef, eight kg of mutton, 25kg of dressed broiler chicken, 60 litres of milk and 200 eggs were all sold out in less than an hour at the Khamarbari sales point set up by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

The ministry initiative to sell the essentials at subsidised rates drew a wave of people, but many had to settle for less quantities than they wanted or return empty-handed altogether.

Even then, for many it was a win.

Mohammad Rafiq, who works in a bakery, said, "I was able to buy cow's milk after seven months. I also bought a kg of beef. But everything else was sold out."

He said the amount could be increased.

Abdul Karim, who came to the market, was all smiles.

He said he could barely afford to do Ramadan shopping. "I earn Tk25,000 a month. Most of it goes to house rent, my children's education and the rest on food. It was good to be able to buy these goods at a cheaper rate before the first Ramadan."

When the sales ended at 5:10pm, 20 buyers still remained in queue. They would have to return empty-handed.

One of them was Alamgir Hossain, who wore the disappointment on his face.

"I saw that the sale had started here, so I went home to bring some money. I returned 25 minutes later, but by then everything was gone. They should sell more quantities," he said. 

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock on Thursday inaugurated the service on the premises of the Livestock Department in the capital's Khamarbari area, with an aim to help lower income people meet their protein needs during the month of Ramadan.

The service will be available from the 1st to 28th of Ramadan in 20 different areas across the city.

Under this initiative, lower income people will be able to buy beef at Tk640 per kg (market rate Tk750), mutton at Tk940 per kg (Tk1,100), broiler chicken at Tk340 per kg (Tk270), milk at Tk80 per litre (Tk100) and eggs at Tk10 per piece (Tk12).

Within 40 minutes of inauguration today, all the products were sold at the Khamarbari sales point, said Mokaaddas Islam, a cashier at the Khamarbari dealership truck.

Only 25% of daily allocation was sold on the inauguration day, including around 80 kg of beef, 25 kg of broiler meat, 60 liters of milk and 200 eggs.

President of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers' Association (BDFA) Mohammad Imran Hossain said the allocation for each van is 100 kg beef, 50 kg dress boiler, 2,000 eggs, 200 litres milk and 10 kg mutton.

During the last Ramadan, this mobile vehicle sold beef at Tk550 per kg, mutton at Tk800 per kg, dressed broiler meat at Tk200 per kg, pasteurised fluid milk at Tk60 per litre and four pieces of eggs at Tk30.

When asked why the prices are higher this time, Bangladesh Dairy Farmers' Association (BDFA) President Mohammad Imran Hossain told TBS, "The production cost and transportation cost have increased a lot due to the increase in the price of fuel oil. Even the car we rented this time costs more than last time."

"A buyer will be able to purchase a maximum of one kg of beef, one kg of chicken, one litre of milk, one dozen eggs, and one kg of mutton," he added.

In the inauguration ceremony, Fisheries Minister SM Rezaul Karim said, "Some of our profiteer traders want to make people suffer during Ramadan by selling adulterated food at exorbitant prices. The government has started taking strict action against them." 

This time, packets of half a litre of milk and a small number of eggs and packets of half a kg of beef will be sold so that low-income people can afford these products, the minister added.

Sales points in Dhaka
The salespoints will be located on Abdul Gani Road adjacent to the Secretariat, Khamarbari Road, Japan Garden City in Mohammadpur, Mirpur 60 feet Road, Azimpur Maternity Hospital, Naya Bazar in Old Dhaka, Arambagh, Notun Bazaar, Kalshi in Mirpur, Khilgaon Railgate, Lucas More in Nakhalpara, Segun Bagicha Kacha Bazar, Bosila of Mohammadpur, Diabari of Uttara, Jatra Bari, Gabtoli, Hazaribagh, Karail slum in Banani, Kamrangirchar and Rampura.