Masud Rana, Barishal Bureau

The traditional Rupatoli Housing Kitchen Market in Barishal city is on the verge of losing its heritage due to being taken over by powerful leaseholders.

Wholesale and retail traders have repeatedly lodged complaints with various authorities, but no solution has been provided.

According to government directives, the toll for shops selling fish, meat, vegetables, and other goods should be 5, 10, or 15 taka. However, traders are being forced to pay between 200 to 300 taka per shop.

Despite having official regulations, no toll rate chart has been displayed in the market. Traders are also not being given any official receipts for the toll collected.

Small-scale traders said, “After the fall of the autocratic government on August 5, with the help of students, we were able to conduct business with some relief. But things changed after Barisal City Corporation leased out the market again. Initially, we thought the toll would be lower than before, and we hoped to provide for our families more comfortably. But on the very first day under the new lease, the toll doubled compared to previous rates. We never imagined this.”

Several small traders, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said,
“We sell vegetables sitting on jute sacks in open spaces. The government-set toll is 7 taka per jute sack (stall), but we are being charged 200 taka instead.”

The traders are demanding that the relevant authorities take immediate steps to stop this excessive toll collection.

They also alleged that a conspiratorial group is leasing the markets at rates far above the government-set prices. While this increases government revenue, the burden falls heavily on general consumers and small traders. They are being forced to pay tolls that are 8 to 10 times higher than the official rates.

Nantu, a member of the Metropolitan BNP and former convener of Ward No. 24 BNP, said,
“Everyone in the market is a small trader. I don’t think it’s right to charge them extra. If anyone is collecting excess money in the name of BNP, they should bear full responsibility for it.”

Regarding the matter, leaseholder Abul Kalam Azad, identifying himself as the former general secretary of Ward No. 24 BNP, denied the allegations and said, we didn’t have the toll rate chart in hand today, which caused some issues in the collection.

When asked if it was legal to collect excess toll without issuing receipts and by violating city corporation rules, he failed to give any answer. Instead, he requested the journalist not to publish the report and invited them for tea at the market.

On the other hand, repeated calls to the official government phone number of Barishal City Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, Rezaul Bari, went unanswered.