Retailers urged to go to BDR-run wholesale mkts to avoid cheating
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
As they have raised the allegations of cheating in weight and prices by the wholesalers, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has urged the retailers to go to BDR-set up wholesale markets in the city to buy goods at fair prices, reports UNB.
BDR has already set up three markets in the city-one at Uttara and two others at Sayedabad and Gabtoli-as part of government efforts to keep the soaring prices under control.
The wholesale market in Uttara is already in full operation while the others in Sayedabad and Gabtoli are operating partially, a BDR high official who is monitoring the wholesale markets told the news agency.
Earlier Sunday, leaders of Small Fish and Kitchen Traders Association at a press conference alleged that the retailers were being cheated in weight and prices by the wholesalers in the city's wholesale markets.
They demanded setting up of government-run wholesale markets at different kitchen markets of the city to help them run their business smoothly.
The BDR official said there was no scope of any irregularities in selling goods at the BDR-facilitated wholesale markets as they strictly enforce all rules for smooth trading.
"We're also planning to expand the wholesale markets at Gabtoli and Sayedabad as per the growing need of the city- dwellers," he said.
Asked why the retailers go to those wholesale markets even after being cheated in many ways, president of the association Anwar Hossain Shikder said they had no option but to go there.
In this regard, the BDR official said, "These traders go over there as they can purchase goods on credits. This is the main reason. They cannot do that in our markets."
"I myself went to Karwan Bazar kitchen market in plainclothes but I didn't find such irregularities as complained by the small traders. But fish retailers are sometimes cheated by the wholesalers," he said.
Blaming the retailers for the spiraling prices, the BDR high official said they (retailers) were irrationally raising the prices of essentials.
"It's very unfortunate that they sell items at much higher prices than the ones they are buying those from the wholesale markets."
Responding to a query, he said the prices of onion and garlic have marked a rise in BDR markets as India stopped exporting the items to Bangladesh.
BDR has already set up three markets in the city-one at Uttara and two others at Sayedabad and Gabtoli-as part of government efforts to keep the soaring prices under control.
The wholesale market in Uttara is already in full operation while the others in Sayedabad and Gabtoli are operating partially, a BDR high official who is monitoring the wholesale markets told the news agency.
Earlier Sunday, leaders of Small Fish and Kitchen Traders Association at a press conference alleged that the retailers were being cheated in weight and prices by the wholesalers in the city's wholesale markets.
They demanded setting up of government-run wholesale markets at different kitchen markets of the city to help them run their business smoothly.
The BDR official said there was no scope of any irregularities in selling goods at the BDR-facilitated wholesale markets as they strictly enforce all rules for smooth trading.
"We're also planning to expand the wholesale markets at Gabtoli and Sayedabad as per the growing need of the city- dwellers," he said.
Asked why the retailers go to those wholesale markets even after being cheated in many ways, president of the association Anwar Hossain Shikder said they had no option but to go there.
In this regard, the BDR official said, "These traders go over there as they can purchase goods on credits. This is the main reason. They cannot do that in our markets."
"I myself went to Karwan Bazar kitchen market in plainclothes but I didn't find such irregularities as complained by the small traders. But fish retailers are sometimes cheated by the wholesalers," he said.
Blaming the retailers for the spiraling prices, the BDR high official said they (retailers) were irrationally raising the prices of essentials.
"It's very unfortunate that they sell items at much higher prices than the ones they are buying those from the wholesale markets."
Responding to a query, he said the prices of onion and garlic have marked a rise in BDR markets as India stopped exporting the items to Bangladesh.