The seven cooperatives markets the government set up in the capital aiming at selling chemical-free essential items at fair price could not fulfill the aspiration
of consumers and department of cooperatives.
The markets are located at Agargaon, Mohakhali, Azimpur, Darussalam road in Mirpur, Shyamali and Motijhil.
The shops in the cooperative market are supposed to sell a kilogram of vegetables, meat, rice and some other essential commodities at Tk 5-20 less than the prices at other kitchen markets.
But the markets could not maintain their commitment and are now selling their consumer items at prices charged at other kitchen markets.
A kilogram of beef was fixed at Tk 250-260 at the cooperative markets, but they were selling it at Tk 280 (with bone) and Tk 350 to 380 (boneless).
The retail price of sugar was set at Tk 45.5 a kilogram but it was retailed in the cooperatives markets between Tk 52 and Tk 55. Similar scenario was witnessed in the price of other consumer items.
A kilogram of green chilly was traded at Tk 120 in the kitchen markets while it traded at Tk 155 to 170 at cooperatives markets in the city.
Mohammad Humayun Khalid, registrar of the cooperatives department, told New Age that the cooperatives markets must sell their products bellow the market price or at fair price.
‘We will strengthen our monitoring over the cooperatives markets so that the general consumers can buy essentials bellow the market price or at least at fair price,’ he said.
A cooperative market named Holiday Haat the government introduced at Agargaon on July 21 last year in a bid to sell chemical-free fresh fruits, vegetables, fishes, meat, rice, oil, sugar, salt and cosmetics at fair price to consumers, especially of middle-income groups.
State minister for LGRD and cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak inaugurated the market in front of Samobay Bhaban.
With 58 stalls of 32 cooperatives society the market started its journey in makeshift thatched structures.
Primarily the market got huge response from the consumers of middle and lower income groups mainly for the fresh and adulteration-free vegetables, beef, fish and other consumer items at fair price.
But the consumers gradually lost their interest in the market when they started experiencing poor quality of consumer items and their prices being similar to other kitchen markets, said a high-official of the cooperatives department, preferring not to be named.
He added that the businessmen also lost their interest in the market as it was no longer profitable.
Holiday Haat on Thursday was found in a shabby state with 10-12 shops displaying a poor collection of consumer items including mango, milk, beef and groceries.
Mohammad Siddique, salesman of Beauty Super Shop at Holiday Haat, told New Age that because of poor presence of customers and low profit, many shopkeepers had shutdown their shops.
The New Age found similar scenario at Bangladesh Cooperative Marketing Society-run Motijhil Cooperatives Market.
The market was inaugurated in September last year and it also failed to attract the general consumers.
The government launched four cooperative markets in replacement of the then ‘BDR shops’ at Shyamoli, Azimpur, Mohakhali and Darussalam road in August 2011.
Of the markets, Kinshuk Multipurpose Cooperatives Association Limited-run Samabaye Bazaar at Shyamali and Abahani Multipurpose Cooperatives Association Limited are functioning smoothly.
At Kingshuk Samabaye Bazaar, almost all consumer items are being traded at prices similar to those at other super shops like Swapno.
Salesmen at the market declined to make comment, asking New Age to talk to the market secretary, Nazmul Alam Bhuian Jewel.
Despite several attempts over phone, Nazmul Alam Bhuian could not be reached for comment.
Abdur Rahim, a private job holder and resident of Shekhertek area, said, ‘I used to buy kitchen items from Shyamoli BDR market but when it was turned into a cooperative market I stopped going there as prices at the market were not fair,’
-With New Age input
