The recent price hike of essentials in Bangladesh, particularly in the capital, has dealt a double blow to the poor and the middle-income group of people already hit hard by unemployment and salary cuts due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "The sufferings, caused by the unusual price hike, are even more for the middle-class people like us as we can’t share that we’ve little or no food at home,” said Hasan Jamil (not his real name) in his mid-50s. The prices of almost all essential commodities have gone up, making it difficult for the common people to meet their daily needs. Read Unusual yarn price hike in local market to be checked: Manufacturers The soaring prices of essentials like rice, pulse, onion and vegetable, are forcing many to rush to TCB OMS trucks to buy their commodities at lower prices. Alauddin, a private bank employee, told UNB, “I don’t know how to cope with the rising prices with my limited income. Even if the monthly expenses are reduced, I’ve to spend an extra amount of Tk 2000 per month to buy essential items.” “No one will understand the agonies of people like us. Prices are skyrocketing although our salaries do not increase every year,” he said. Read BNP worries over ‘sudden’ onion price hike Alauddin went on saying, “So, I’m here in the queue to buy goods from this TCB truck. And I don't think I'll be able to buy anything today as the queue is so long here. Yesterday I waited for an hour in a queue behind a TCB truck at Malibagh and returned home empty handed.” There is nothing unique in Alauddin’s story. Many low- and middle-income consumers are feeling the pinch of price hike across the country. Crowding around the trucks run by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is growing day by day making it hard for the TCB dealers to cope with the situation as the prices of rice, pulse, onion, sugar and other essential items keep soaring. Also read: Soaring veggie prices sour festive spirit for city residents