Cliques control Border Haat
Retail shoppers deprived of benefit
The benefits of the Baliamari-Kaliachar border haat are not reaching the poor villagers of adjacent areas as some syndicates are controlling the trading here.
Inaugurated on July 24, the restricted haat that (weekly market) was meant for the economic improvement of the villages within the five-kilometre radius of the haat area, has now turned into a wholesale market compelling retail customers to shop elsewhere at higher prices.
The syndicates, which some groups of authorised buyers have formed, purchase goods here in bulk and sell those in the very market at almost double price to retail shoppers. They sell the same goods at even higher prices outside the haat.
During a recent visit to the haat, this correspondent found that four pieces of oranges were selling at Tk 15 to Tk 20 under wholesale bargain while they are sold at Tk 30 to Tk 32 during retail sale. The same oranges cost up to Tk 40 outside the haat.
Similarly, the cliques were seen buying ginger at Tk 18 to Tk 22 per kilogram and selling those in the haat at Tk 30 to Tk 35. Outside the market they sell per kg of ginger at Tk 40.Md Rabiul Islam, a resident of Bottola village, said, "I could not buy anything today, as some small groups have bought everything I need in bulk and are selling those at much higher prices."
The syndicates and the sellers blame the currency conversion system in the haat. They said the Indian sellers are more eager to sell goods in bulk quantity as it makes the bargain easier and saves time. Thus shopping in the haat gets beyond the capacity of the poor villagers and the small groups come into the play.
Approached, haat Customs Inspector for Bangladesh Md Habibur Rahman said he heard about the syndicates controlling the market and assured that he would address the problem in discussion with higher authorities.
The members of the so-called syndicates are all authorised to purchase in the haat. Each of them was issued identity cards before the border haat was inaugurated by Bangladeshi and Indian high-ups.
In Bangladesh side, a total of 2,723 people were issued ID cards as buyers and 25 as authorised sellers for up to a period of one year. Among the buyers, as many as 300 people are allowed to shop on each market day, that is Wednesday, and the rest wait for their turn by rotation, said Rajibpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rezaul Karim, also the tag officer of the haat.
This rotation of buyers has also created some complicacies. For instance, those who cannot get in the haat on a particular day are forced to buy commodities at higher prices from local markets.
Indian seller Moshibur Rahman was seen sitting with his 10 sacks of ginger, waiting for a Bangladeshi buyer, who ordered those, to show up. The buyer was not let in on that particular day as it was not his turn.Most of the times, the buyers here order for particular goods and pick them up on a convenient haat day.
As per the border haat rules set by both the countries, each buyer can shop here up to the limit of Tk 3,500 (equivalent to $ 50). The countries also fixed 69 items, including corn, coconuts, cotton, dates, ginger, spices, vegetables, betel nuts, paan (betel leaf), seedlings and handicrafts, to be traded in the market.The Rajibpur UNO, who has been recently posted there, assured of addressing the syndicate issue and ensuring access to commodities by local people at fair prices.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=211699
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