The poor quality of goods provided by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has become a cause for concern among consumers not just in Barisal city but all over the Barisal region. At the same time, the high costs of transportation by trucks have created serious problems. As a fallout, the price control of essential commodities has been affected.
A number of appointed dealers has not received the essential goods sanctioned to them from the TCB godown for truck sales. A few others have, however, officially started functioning with the goods supplied to them, even though the trucks are inoperative.
The TCB started truck sales here from June 23. These will continue till July 16.
There are 15 appointed dealers for Barisal metropolitan area and 14 dealers for seven districts: Barisal, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Madaripur and Shariatpur. Only five of the 15 have received goods from the TCB in Barisal city. Two dealers are appointed for each district. Sources in the Barisal TCB office claimed that among the appointed dealers, no dealer has received goods in Shariatpur, Madaripur and Borguna districts.
The government sanctions 136 tonnes of sugar, 63 tonnes of mustard pulse, 120 tones of ‘cholaboot’ and 49,259 litres of Swabil oil for truck sales here. But from June 25 till the date of filing the report, dealers were able to sell only 71 tonnes of sugar, 36,559 lakh litres of Swabil oil, 34 tonnes of mustard pulse and 52 tonnes of ‘cholaboot’. A huge quantity of goods was found in the godown of the TCB.
Consumers claimed that the quality of TCB goods was unsatisfactory from the beginning. Taking advantage of this, a section of dishonest businessmen is increasing the prices of essential commodities of everyday use here.
Customers alleged that the shoddy quality of the TCB goods compel them to avoid these commodities.
TCB dealers claimed that the high rates of transportation were discouraging them from doing business. “We are failing to make minimum profits after selling the goods this year, as a large amount of money had to be spent on transportation.” They said the normal rate of transportation by truck was Tk. 6,000 from Barisal to Bhola. But at present, the truck-owners have demanded Tk. 1,300 per trip because of the heavy rains and the long traffic tailback at Veduria ferry ghat on the route.  The government has announced a programme to curb prices of essential items during the holy Sheb-E-Barat and Ramadan through the state-owned distribution channel, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). But the selection of dealers has allegedly been politicised.
Lokman Hosen, a dealer of the city, said people with low incomes have no interest in purchasing decomposed or expired goods after paying cash. “Customers have been refusing the goods from the very first day as their quality is very shoddy. I’m in a difficult position now, having received sugar and ‘cholaboot,” he added.
This reporter visited the dealers’ shop only to find that most of them were closed. Again, a large number of customers did not know about the function of TCB dealers’ shops, as there is no publicity. However, there was a heavy rush of customers at the truck sales in different parts of the city. The government has ordered the TCB and administrative authorities to prepare a list of dealers and send it to TCB head office. Md. Hannan Khan, company chief of Barisal TCB, said the list was prepared at the suggestion of MPs of the different areas.
Khan also said the appointment and monitoring of dealers are carried out by the committee appointed by the district administration.
He even claimed that the quality of the TCB goods this year was much better than in previous years.