DHAKA: The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh is going to buy 1,000 tons of low-quality Canadian bolder pulse through an overpriced import.

Sources in TCB said that the corporation is going to buy per-kilogram pulse at Tk 73.50 while the market price is Tk 67.50.

Besides, sources alleged that TCB was trying to buy Nepalese pulse named Kangaroo at a high price despite the fact that they have another offer for the same pulse at a lower rate.

Some overenthusiastic officials were behind the deal for their petty interest, sources added.

A number of TIB officials and dealers confirmed that the TCB has made a contract with a supplier for the pulses.

TCB director Mahfuzur Rahman Sarkar, however, denied such claim.

“The Commerce Ministry has fixed the rate at Tk 73 for per-kilo Canadian pulse. The price includes five percent tax and Tk 1 conveyance. No contract has been signed on this proposed issue yet,” said Rahman.

On the other hand, some suppliers proposed to supply Nepali Kangaroo pulse at Tk 94 per kilo, but the TCB is going to buy it from Trio Hologram at Tk 96, sources said.

Sources said a niece of the TCB director is allegedly working as the go-between for the trade.

Rahman again rejected the allegation.

“Names of three companies have been sent to the ministry who can supply quality pulse per-kilo at Tk 95 and the list did not include Trio Hologram,” he said. He also refused having a niece named Tania.

The banglanews24.com.bd correspondent tried to contact TCB chairman Khalilur Rahman over phone. But he could not be accessed.

President of TCB’s dealers association Jewel Ahmed said decisions by TCB created trouble for the dealers. “They are responsible for price hike. They (TCB) should have started before the Shab-e-Barat which they did not. The TCB started offering products just a day before Ramadan,” he said.


BDST: 2154 HRS. AUGUST 31, 2010