TCB activities not supervised showing inactive family cards in Kalapara
Gofran Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)
The government's TCB activities are collapsing due to lack of supervision in Kalapara, Patuakhali. Two-thirds of the beneficiary families are not covered by the benefits of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) on the pretext of not having activated their family cards. As a result, the activities conducted by TCB to supply daily necessities to the beneficiary families at fixed prices to keep the market of daily necessities stable are of no use.
On the spot at 11:30 am on Tuesday, it was seen that a mini truck carrying TCB goods was seen standing empty in front of Kalapara Municipality. TCB dealers and their employees were passing the time idly. After a while, one or two beneficiaries were seen coming. Till 3 pm, a total of 33 beneficiaries were seen collecting goods. In addition, TCB goods were seen in the rooms of some employees of the municipality. According to them, the family members of the beneficiaries had given them cards. And they had released their goods, which they would come and collect. However, the responsible tag officer was not seen at that time.
Sources say that there has been widespread nepotism and irregularities in the preparation of the TCB beneficiary list of Kalapara Municipality. Former mayors and ward councilors have prepared a list of their choice, excluding the names of the real beneficiaries for the sake of their vote politics. TCB activities are still being carried out with that list.
The source further said that the number of families registered with TCB in Kalapara Municipality is 1770. Out of these, 320 have activated their family cards, while the rest have not yet been activated. Every month, beneficiary families can buy 5 kg of rice, 2 liters of oil, 2 kg of pulses, and 1 kg of sugar through the card at a package price of 540 taka. Every month, TCB dealers bring trucks loaded with products, but most of the products are returned. However, although there are rumors of secret sales of products to many traders, TCB dealers say that they are depositing the returned products in the TCB warehouse.
Earlier, on September 25 at 2 pm, TCB's products were distributed in front of the municipality, which continued until the evening. That day, daily wage workers Subash Sikder (77), Rajni Sikder (55), and Tapan Kumar Das (62) of Ward No. 5 returned without receiving the products despite bringing their family cards.
In this regard, TCB dealer Shaon Shamsuddoha Trading's owner Md. Shaon said, today, October 21, until 4:15 pm, 110 beneficiaries have collected TCB products at the specified package price. The distribution process is ongoing, which will continue until the evening. Last month, another dealer Md. Humayun Kabir distributed the products.
Shaon also said that it is not possible to deliver products to those whose cards have not been activated. The returned products will be stored in the TCB warehouse.
Kalapara Municipality Executive Officer Kabyalal Chakraborty said that Deputy Assistant Engineer Wali Ullah is serving as the supervisory officer of the municipality's TCB activities. He knows this matter well.
Kalapara UNO and Municipality Administrator Md. Kausar Hamid said, 'I am in Gopalganj for government training. I am looking into the activities of TCB..
