In the bazaars of the village of Bogra, the buyers and the haturs (traders) are the victims of the unequal conflict between the leaders of the ruling party. They are renting the huts at a much higher price than the price fixed by the administration. Although the government revenue increases, the burden falls on the shoulders of buyers and farmers. They are forced to pay two to three times more than the fixed rent.
Last year (Bengali 1430 year), Shafiqul Islam, the owner of Shenu Traders of Sherpur, took the lease of Omarpurhat in Nandigram Upazila of the district for one crore 48 lakh 49 thousand taka. This time (Bangla 1431), Awami League leader Kanailal Maina, a partner of MB Enterprise in Badurtala area of the city, took the market for Tk 2 crore 25 lakh 70 thousand by competing. An additional VAT/tax of 25 percent will be added to this fixed price.
Mayor of Nandigram Municipality Anichur Rahman told Jago News, ‘The price set by the government in this market was a little over 1 crore 55 lakhs. Due to unequal competition there we got more than 70 lakh rupees. It is good for government revenue. But we will keep an eye on the matter so that the lessee cannot collect more money in rent.’
On the other hand, district volunteer league president Sajedur Rahman Shaheen has leased the market named Noymile in Shajahanpur upazila for 81 lakh taka for 60 lakh taka more than last time. Last year, the highest bid of the market was Tk 21 lakh 80 thousand.
There was no disruption in Pasurhat Mahasthan, one of the largest in the district. District Awami League General Secretary Bogra-6 (Sadar) Member of Parliament Ragebul Ahsan Ripur brother-in-law Shafiqul Islam has leased the hut for 1431 year more than Bangla 1430 year.
Where in the previous years syndicates were used to lease huts at low prices, this time it is feared that the lease will have an impact on the hut owners. Farmers and traders say that the price of products will also increase while paying additional rent.
On the condition of anonymity, a senior leader of the district Awami League told Jago News, ‘We are not able to show our face to the people. The tussle between their own leaders and activists over the lease of the hut is now an open secret. Even if you can’t tell what honey is in the market, why would anyone take the market? This additional money will fall on the shoulders of ordinary farmers and traders.
According to district administration sources, upazila administration and municipal authorities have invited separate tenders to lease 254 haat-bazars at an average price of 6 percent more than last year. Among them there are 67 animal markets. 26 rice and vegetable markets.
According to the research, livestock, paddy and vegetable markets are the most visited by tenants. There are also cases of taking rent at a price lower than the price fixed by the government through these haat-bazaar syndicates for a period of one year. There have even been instances of suing on the pretext of making losses and stopping the extra lease of the haat. 10 years ago, the price of Ghoradhap Hat in Bogra Sadar was Tk 48 lakh. Three years later, around 2015, the call of that market did not rise above 35 lakh rupees due to the syndicate. Later, the administration was forced to lease the hut for 30 lakh rupees.
The hut was leased for four consecutive years at the same price. But last five years ago due to the strictness of the administration, the competition increased and the haat started calling for more than 7 lakh rupees every year. Last year (Bangla 1430) the lease was given at almost double the price of 70 lakh 93 thousand 873 taka.
It is alleged that several huts were leased through the syndicate last year as well. In Shajahanpur upazila of the district, there was also an incident of violence between the leaders and activists of the ruling party based on the lease of huts. District Jubo League vice-president also filed a case against Upazila Svechsevak League president Nuruzzaman on the charge of stealing the schedule of huts. Earlier, the haat-bazar lease was taken by syndicate, but mainly disputes arose among themselves since last year. That’s why there is no syndicate this time. He calls the market as he likes. They are collecting this extra money from the additional rent of the market.
On February 3, the administration invited tenders to lease 22 haat-bazars (Bengali for 1431) in Shajahanpur upazila. District Volunteer League President VP Sajedur Rahman Shaheen said the Naimile Hut worth Tk 21 lakh 80 thousand 234 is Tk 81 lakh 23 thousand, the Dublagari hut worth Tk 38 lakh 20 thousand 500 is Tk 81 lakh 56 thousand, the Jamadarpukur hut worth Tk 46 lakh 99 thousand 999 is Tk 1 crore 10 1 lakh 50 thousand taka and 62 lakh 34 thousand taka the Jamgram Hut of Kahalu upazila has been leased for one crore 33 lakh 22 thousand taka. 25 percent VAT and taxes are added to this price of the market.
In this regard, VP Sajedur Rahman Shaheen told Jago News, ‘I do business along with politics. Although the market price is high, I took it knowing that I will not lose. Government revenue has increased due to the increase in market prices.’
However, he claimed that the toll or fare will not increase than before. No need to pay tax on selling crops from home.
However, Alhaj Sheikh, the vice-president of the district Jubo League and the lessee of Khadna and Atail Hat, spoke differently. According to him, those who have taken haat-bazaar lease at a price higher than the market value must increase the toll or rent to collect the money. That will increase the price of the product.
The Namuja Hut in Bogra Sadar was leased for Tk 75 lakh last year. This time Jubo League leader Abdul Mateen Sarkar, the leader of MB Enterprise in Chaksutrapur area, has taken a lease for Tk 1 crore 77 lakh.
Apart from Mahasthan, another big haat of Shibganj upazila, Mokamtala haat, was leased for Tk 1.6 million by brother-in-law of MP Ripur Shafiqul Islam. Last year the market was leased for 1 crore 23 lakh 67 thousand 410 taka.
Meanwhile, various areas have been visited, although the collection of New Year’s rent has not yet started, it has already started affecting farmers, farmers and traders. Recently, rent was collected from the houses of farmers in Chupinagar area of Shajahanpur upazila due to the sale of potatoes from the land. The farmers who produce vegetables in Shahnagar area there sell vegetables at home but they are forced to pay rent. Even if cows and goats are sold at home, both are brought under rent by the lessees.
When a truck carrying goods passes through the market area, the tenants are seen stopping it and collecting a fee of at least 1000 taka per truck. On February 21, while a truck loaded with potatoes was going to Dhaka via Ariyahat area of Shahjahanpur, the tenants stopped the truck and collected the fee. After receiving the complaint, the RAB members arrested the three extortionists red-handed. In Mahasthan market also, the concerned have complained that every truckload of vegetables has been increased by Rs.
The animal traders fear that the sacrifices coming due to the high price of the market will have the biggest impact on the market. In their opinion, they have to pay double the rent for selling cattle and goats than last year. Traders fear that the price of goods will increase by increasing the toll of the market.
A businessman named Aminul said that the lease price including 25 percent VAT in Omarpurhat has fallen to 2 crore 81 lakh 13 thousand 383 taka. Which is one crore 27 lakh taka more than last year. In order to withdraw real money, the lessee has to withdraw at least 2 lakh 70 thousand 321 taka from every haat. If you want to make a profit, there is the issue of collecting additional rent.
Awami League leader Kanilal Maina, who took the lease of Omarpurhat at a higher price than the government’s demand, said that while competing, I was forced to take the lease of the hut at a higher price. However, there will be no loss in the market. However, he said that more rent will not be charged from the farmers.
Shajahanpur upazila executive officer Tahmida Akhter said that the government’s revenue is increasing due to the lease of the bazaar at a high price. But toll or fare charts will be hung at every market so that the toll or fare cannot be increased. Charges will be charged as per that chart. Taking more will cancel the lease. The price of the product cannot be increased.
General Secretary of District Awami League Member of Parliament Ragebul Ahsan Ripu said that earlier huts were taken by syndicate. Due to which the government did not get the appropriate price for the market. This time the syndicate was broken and there was a competitive call. It has increased in value. He also said that the haat was taken by promoting my name, but the haat was mainly run by my brother-in-law.
Masum Ali Baig, deputy director of the local government department of the district commissioner’s office, said that if the market is leased at a price higher than the government’s demand, it may affect the farmers. Because those who are buying haat at higher prices will resort to various tricks to withdraw money. But we will play a strict role in this matter.
SR/GKS
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