Fascist Awami League government allocates shops worth Tk 40 crore in Titumir Market, 167 traders are lost

Fascist Awami League government allocates shops worth Tk 40 crore in Titumir Market, 167 traders are lost

National Desk :    |    ১২:৪৮ পিএম, ২০২৫-০৮-১২

M.A. Mueed Hossain (Arif): There have been allegations of corruption and irregularities in allocating 334 shops in the government-run Titumir Market (East) of Faridpur city, depriving genuine traders. Ignoring genuine shopkeepers and traders, influential political leaders and some corrupt police, administration and government officials have allocated shops anonymously in the names of these shops. According to the rules, genuine traders were supposed to be allocated these shops. In addition, the District Administrator had mentioned in an allocation notification that multiple shops would not be allocated in the name of the same family. However, information has been found that at least 68 people from 29 families have been allocated shops in the list of shop allocations. A maximum of 6 shops have been allocated in the name of members of the same family. The list also includes the names of relatives of influential local Awami League and other party leaders.

It is known that recently, in the name of complete restructuring and modernization of the market, the political leaders of the fascist Awami League government were present on a mission to evict the old 167 shopkeepers like the Pakistani invaders, armed with weapons without any notice. They even created fear and terror by filing cases, attacking and threatening the shopkeepers and isolating them. Later, the 167 shopkeepers and their families lived a life of humanity. In the light of the letter from the Ministry of Lands and the District Commissioner, they were assured that the 167 shopkeepers (old) would be allotted shops on the 2nd and 3rd floors on a priority basis. However, in reality, the opposite happened. Shop allotment letters were issued in the names of incompetent and new people by exerting political influence through large amounts of bribery and irregularities. It is known that a syndicate consisting of some government and political leaders was involved in the shop allotment business. This syndicate has embezzled crores of taka in the name of shop allotment. It is learnt that the total estimated cost of constructing a 3-storey market on 1.22 percent of the land leased by 167 traders affected by the fire in 2000 was estimated at 5,90,31,398/- (Five crore ninety lakh thirty one thousand three hundred ninety eight) taka and the source of funds was private financing (businessmen's own money). But after the project was approved, the local administration issued new conditions one after another. On 15th January 2013, the Ministry of Lands approved the project by attaching bonds/commitments from the 167 traders affected by the fire on the condition of allotting the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors.

Ignoring the order of the Ministry of Land, the affected traders were allotted 167 shops on the ground floor, like small pigeon houses. Where natural light, air and mobile phone network are not available. At that time, the local influential Awami League leaders divided 334 shops on the 2nd and 3rd floors. A writ petition was filed in the High Court Division of the then Supreme Court regarding the construction of the unplanned market. The officials, employees and leaders of the fascist government finished the construction work by showing the thumbs up to the High Court. When a complaint was filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission on August 7, 2016 regarding irregularities in the allocation of shops, Deputy Director Md. Fazlul Haque, the investigating officer, issued a letter on August 9, 2016. But the influential circles continued their work by hiding it from the investigation. Currently, 167 traders have sought redress from the Chief Advisor of the interim government. (Details coming in the next episode).