# Anger rise among the businessmen
# Women and small businesses will be deprived
The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) introduced a new system for appointing dealers. In the new rules regarding the appointment of dealers, the DO letter or permission of the local MP is being made mandatory.
The concerned people have been instructed to follow this new method of appointing dealers across the country including Dhaka.
It has been alleged that many businessmen are being deprived of the new rules as TCB dealers for a long time. MPs are not giving DO letters to the ruling party as they do not hold any post. As a result, they are unable to renew the dealer dealership even after having all the necessary documents to appoint a dealer.
Leaders of the Dealer Welfare Association have held meetings with senior officials of TCB several times over the issue. However, there was no desired result. Under compulsion, the leaders of the TCB Dealers Association sought an appointment with the State Minister for Commerce, but it did not work, the state minister did not meet them.
The concerned people said that there was not need any DO letter or permission from MP to become TCB dealers. Dealer form was required for the trade license of the shop, shop agreement, attested copy of dealer photo ID card, tin certificate, bank solvency. If the AC Land fulfilled these necessary documents and conditions, the papers were sent from TCB to the regional office after conducting an on-site investigation. After that, dealers were allowed to dealership for two years on the condition of non-refundable Tk 10,000 and 30,000 refund. It was known that in a letter signed by the TCB chairman on July 3, the MPs were instructed to add a DO letter for the renewal of the dealership.
On condition of anonymity, several TCB dealers said, we have been working with dealerships following all the rules of the government for a long time. Now we have to go door to door to get DO letters from MPs to renew our papers. However, the MPs said that this time we will not be given to others except our party workers. The dealers also alleged that MPs of almost all the seats in Dhaka have said this.
Md Rafiqul Islam, president of Dealers Welfare Association, said, "We have about 8,000 dealers across the country. We have been doing business following the rules of the government for a long time. Now the DO letter has been made mandatory for MPs to renew the dealership. Many dealers are frustrated. Because we are all businessmen (grocers), many of us do not have any political position and identity."
He also said that there are many women dealers among us, including widows and divorcees, who are in danger of being deprived due to the introduction of this new rule. Because many of the stars do not have political identity, they have less opportunity to reach the local MP. Besides, there are many small traders who will lose their dealership if they do not bring the DO letter. But even during Corona, they were by the side of the common people, risking their lives. We tried to meet the state minister for commerce several times but could not meet him.
Meanwhile, TCB spokesman Humayun Kabir told The Daily Post that they have been asked to bring a DO letter. However, no instructions have been given to be party leaders.
When the TCB chairman's number was called about the matter, he said he would not talk on mobile.
At a regular meeting of TCRI yesterday, the leaders of the Dealers Welfare Association urged the State Minister for Commerce to resolve the matter. But you need a DO letter, he said.
Frustrated with the state minister's statement, the leaders of the Dealers Welfare Association said that once the state minister said that you are there, you will stay, and again say that a DO letter will be required. But when it went to MPs, they were not giving DO letters.
Rafiqul Islam, president of the Dealers Welfare Association, said, "We are not hopeful of the state minister's statement. We will talk to our members on Sunday (today) and inform the media about this."
Sayeed Khokon, MP of Dhaka-8 constituency, told The Daily Post that a long time ago, the Ministry of Commerce requested the MPs to give a DO letter for the appointment of TCB dealers. I got it too. However, I did not get any instruction that the party should have a designation. I don't do divisive politics in my area. But I have always worked to create employment for many unemployed youths in our party and outside the party. I'll keep working.
ZH
