Unauthorized operation of banana market at Bhatai Bazar on Jhenaidah-Kushtia highway under Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah, has been depriving the farmers and the government is being deprived off huge revenue everyday as the market was not allocated among the toll collectors through any tender process. The market sometimes create traffic congestions in the morning during the pick hours of business.
Further, the unauthorized businessmen have been harassing the farmers when they deny to sale their produces to the said market. Local administration said they will take legal steps against the unscrupulous men involved in doing business in the name of banana market.
Locals said some influential started operating a banana market at Bhatai Bazer by the side of Jhenaidah - Kushtia highway under Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah in July last year. When the matter was reported to the upazila administration, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) had stopped the market which was started without any tender process.
But influential locals did not sit idle. They have been arranging the daily basis banana market and enforcing the farmers to sell their banana there. As a result the farmers cannot move to Jhenaidah and other markets for selling purposes. Not only that, the purchasers belongs to the unauthorized organizers offer least prices during selling the same. It has been affecting them, said Masum Billah of Golaknagar and a number of banana farmers.
They alleged traders in the market forcibly unloads banana from the vans carrying the fruit. They also offer below prices for the products and delays in payment. If anyone protests the irregularities, traders and their associates threat them.
Hafizur Rahman, self declared owner of the market when contacted, said he had submitted documents to the deputy commissioner (DC) for allocating the market and expecting to receive the positive response from the DC within a few days. He denied of any irregularities in the market.
Shailkupa UNO Kaniz Fatema Liza when contacted said she had stopped the unauthorized banana market at Bhatai Bazer a few months back. If the same market was started once again, she will tale legal steps in this regard.