The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has provided family cards to the low-income group people so that they can purchase rice soybean oil, sugar and lentil at an affordable price. But the people are being compelled to give bribe to the chairmen and members of union parishads and local hoodlums to renew their family cards. People queued up in a long line in front of Thetrai Union at Ulipur Upazila in Kurigram district giving bribe Taka 300 to renew each family card, according to media report.
If anyone refuses to pay the amount of money, he or she is being humiliated or physically assaulted. Some 3412 people of Thetrai Union get TCB sale facilities. Many of them submitted written allegations to the Ulipur Upazila Nirbahi Office against the chairman, members and hoodlums in this regard. A committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner Land has also been formed to investigate the incident.
The authorities concerned must
ensure exemplary punishment to
the corrupt chairmen and members
Country’s people believe the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always stays beside the people during any crisis as it does politics for the welfare of the people. Therefore, it is selling four essential commodities, including edible oil, at affordable among low-income groups of people through the state-run TCB across the country.
The prices of almost all essential commodities have gone up, making it difficult for the common people to meet their daily needs. Hence, the government is selling these essential goods at subsidised prices to low-income families.
The piloting of transforming the family cards into smart cards has been completed at Dhaka North City Corporation, Barishal City Corporation and Narayanganj City Corporation. If all the hand-made cards are transformed into smart cards, the common people will not face such difficulties.
The authorities concerned must ensure exemplary punishment for the corrupt chairmen and members. Reaffirming her government’s tough stance against corruption and irregularities, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also repeatedly issued strong warning against graft especially by public representatives and servants. But the common people are yet to get rid of the menace of corruption, irregularities and mismanagement as no stern action has been taken against the public representatives from grassroots to central level. We all must boycott corrupts socially and raise an unequivocal and collective voice against corruption in the spirit of the War of Liberation to build a corruption free prosperous society.
