The outsourcing workers of various government institutions have blocked the road at Shahbag intersection of the capital demanding nationalization of jobs.

They have blocked the road since 10 am on Saturday (October 19). Due to the blocking of roads by outsourcing workers, severe traffic jams have been created in Shahbagh and its surrounding areas.

It is known that around 10 am hundreds of employees of government institutions gathered at Shahbagh and stopped traffic. Since then the protestors have blocked the road till 12:30 pm. As a result, the vehicles plying on this road have to go to alternative roads.

The agitators said that the previous government had given the policy of exploitation, we have been exploited. We have brought shrouds, blood if needed but still we will not allow our descendants to be oppressed. We have given a peaceful program, we will not create chaos. But time is running out. 

After the fall of the Awami League government in the popular uprising, a lot of relief came in the price of daily necessities. But it didn't take long for that relief to become uncomfortable. In less than two weeks, the prices of all types of daily necessities have gone up again. The government is not able to bring the market that has become crazy even with various measures.

Experts are blaming various manipulations behind the massive increase in commodity prices. Its truth is also found in reality. From the producer to the consumer, the product has to go through several steps. First of all, the product reaches the consumer through local traders, dealers, wholesalers and retail markets from the producer. By doing this, the price of the product increases several times from the producer to the consumer by combining the profit and cost at each step.

Recently, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) have conducted research to find out the reasons for the increase in the prices of daily necessities. In their research, the organization has identified efficient market system as one of the reasons for increasing commodity prices.

Also, due to increase in production and transportation cost, market dominance etc., prices of daily necessities are increasing in the local market. According to the organization, factors such as artificial crisis, obstacles in opening loans, devaluation of money, inefficiency in the supply chain system are contributing to the fluctuation of product prices.

Even after the prices of daily necessities have become so high, there are complaints that farmers are not getting fair prices. When investigating the reasons for such price differences between farmers and consumers, eye-opening information was found. The prices are going up by 50 to 60 percent coming out of the Karwan market wholesale market and coming to the street. A little further away, Mohammadpur Town Hall market is more than doubled.

On Friday (October 18) such images were found on the ground in the capital's Karwan Bazar, Mohammadpur Town Hall Bazar and Sheorapara Bazar. At that time, the price of a gourd was seen to be sold at the wholesale price of 40 to 50 taka in the Karwan market, but fifty yards away, the same gourd was sold for 60 to 70 taka on the road. Again it is seen to be sold for 90 to 100 taka in town hall and Sheorapara market.

Not just gourds, almost every commodity has seen a similar pattern of price hikes. On this day, in the Karwan Bazar, ladies finger was sold at Tk. 45-50 per kg, bitter gourd at Tk .70, long brinjal at Tk. 80-90. The same product is sold at Tk .120, Tk. 120 and Tk. 140 per kg respectively in the town hall market.

There is also a big difference in the price of ginger. Ginger is sold at Tk. 200-250 per kg in wholesale shop in Karwan Bazar, Tk. 220-270 in retail and Tk. 300-360 in Mohammadpur Town Hall market. There was also a big difference in the prices of potatoes, onions and garlic. The price of each product is seen to be sold between 10 to 40 taka.

Adviser to the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, warned against syndicates while inaugurating the sale of essential agricultural products at fair price in Karwan Bazar on October 17. These syndicates invent "new new methods" every day. This government has no shortage of will to bust syndicates. All we need is data and your cooperation.

However, even with such caution, the product price is not coming. Instead, with pocket full of money, the market bag has to be left half empty and return home. So the housewives are forced to be frugal in cooking vegetables. Along with that, the level of calorie consumption per person has also decreased.

Regarding the increase in the price of daily necessities, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Senior Vice President SM Najer Hossain told Barta24.com that to reduce it, we have to implement the law. If we can enforce the law properly then the price of goods will come down. Another thing that needs to be done is to stop changing hands. The lower the change of hands, the lower the price of the product.

He said that the government should make an alternative system to free the commodity price syndicate, and the government should strengthen the alternative system. Now the quantity of vegetables that are being sold by trucks should also be increased. Also, the government should make arrangements so that the farmer can directly bring his product to the market and give it to the consumer.

Stating that the price of daily necessities is not in the government's priority list, SM Nazer Hossain said that the government is busy with many things. They also have to be done, but first of all, the government should have looked into this. If the government had looked into this, it could have brought the government under control more quickly. We could see that too.

The story is like a needle entering and exiting as a thread. Saif Powertech Limited initially entered Chattogram port as a container handling equipment repair company. That company is now the most powerful company in the port after a decade and a half. During the Awami League government, the institution took over the terminal management work of CCT and NCT one by one. Seeing such a high jump of Saif Powertech, many people call them the super power of the port.

Ruhul Amin is the leader of this organization named Saif Powertech Limited, which expanded business by 'managing' Awami League leaders. It has absolute dominance in all three sea ports of the country. Due to political influence and power, no one has spoken about Saif Powertech for so many years, but after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, many people have spoken about the irregularities and corruption of the company. Adviser to Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Jute and Textile Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Shakhawat Hossain visited the port recently and talked about various irregularities of the organization. After that there was a ban against Saif Powertech, the administration also became active.

According to port sources, Saif Powertech has an agreement with Chattogram Port till November 3. After that, there was a demand from the workers' assembly not to enter into a contract with them. At the same time, the labor leaders have also demanded that Saif Powertech be blacklisted in Chattogram port, accusing them of using a section of CBA leaders to destabilize the situation at the port.

Allegations against Saif Powertech:

Prior to 2006, the port authority procured four rail mounted key gantry cranes from Japan's Sumitmo Corporation. Saif Powertech was the local agent for operation and maintenance of Mutant Key Gantry Cranes. Meanwhile, the Saif Power Tech-era at the port began. At that time, the company was accused of changing 12 conditions through the port authority using influence and crossing legal hurdles. It was then discussed that the Chattogram Port Authority had changed its own laws to give special privileges to Saif Powertech for the use of port equipment in CCT management!

The power of Saif Powertech does not end here. In 2006, a company named 'Everest Port Service Limited' submitted a tender for TEUS container handling work at the rate of only 150 taka. Although the lowest bidder did not get the work order, Saif Powertech took the job at a high price. Now per TEUS container handling charges are being charged at the rate of Tk. 900. According to Saif Powertech, from 2007 to July 2024, the company handled 2 crore 10 thousand 739 TEUS containers. A few years ago this rate was 1 thousand 200 taka. The organization was forced to reduce the charges in the face of objections from traders. As per the current charges, for container handling in 17 years, an additional charge of Tk. 750 per TEUS container handling has been taken over the lowest bidder. As such, the company has earned more than one and a half thousand crore takas from container handling alone.

Saif Powertech took over the work of four jetties at NCT Terminal in 2015. After getting this job, the sole dominance of the company was established in the port. The company is handling at least 70 percent containers every year using DPM (Direct Procurement Method). Although it started as a machinery repair company, the company later took on one job after another. Allegedly, Saif Powertech established this rule in the port by assigning work to three former members of parliament of Awami League and a top leader of Awami League.

According to international regulations, terminal operators at ports are supposed to provide their own equipment for container handling. But Chattogram port does not have that rule. By exploiting this opportunity, Saif Powertech has established its authority by using the port's equipment. This institution has influence in other ports of the country as well.

Saif Powertech was also using illegal and unfastened vehicles in sensitive places like ports. Chattogram district administration and BRTA found 60 such vehicles in an operation recently. Later, 10 of their trailer vehicles were fined Tk. 3 lakh on this complaint.

During the Awami League government, the authority of Saif Power Tech was established in the port, but now there are allegations that efforts are being made to prove that Ruhul Amin Tarafdar was not a member of the fallen Awami League. However, businessmen and labor leaders say that Saif Powertech has changed colors and is trying to stay in the good eye of the interim government and the future government.

Labor leaders demand cancellation of contract:

Last week, the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal held a protest rally and rally in front of Chattogram Port Building. The labor leaders warned that not even an inch of the port will be allowed to go to foreign or private companies, including canceling the contract with Saif Powertech.

If asked, Acting General Secretary of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal (former CBA) Md. Humayun Kabir said, "Saif Powertech has an agreement with Chattogram Port till November 3. After that no contract can be made with them. At the same time Saif Powertech should be blacklisted at Chattogram port. They want to destabilize Chattogram Port through a CBA leader. We will not let them realize this hope.

Active Administration:

Shipping Advisor to Ministry and Ministry of Jute and Textile Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Shakhawat Hussain visited the port recently. After the visit, he spoke to reporters about the port tour at the NCT-3 jetty of the port on October 8. Then he said, 'There have been many irregularities here (at Chattogram port). It will take all day to say that. Many have been licensed. They are someone's uncle, brother or uncle. All this is under our control. A lot of work is done unfairly here. We have to clear this port of garbage.

Chattogram district administration and BRTA went on a raid there immediately after this strong position of the adviser of the ministry of shipping and the ministry of jute and textile regarding irregularities. Their operation caught the free movement of unregistered vehicles of Saif Powertech inside Chattogram Port, one of the most important facilities of the country. The government has lost a huge amount of revenue on these vehicles over the years.

An official who participated in the operation said, "60 unregistered heavy vehicles of Saif Powertech were caught while moving inside the port. By registering one such vehicle, the government would get government revenue of at least Taka two lakh. Apart from this, every year the government got at least Tk. 70 thousand revenue from each vehicle due to fitness and tax token and income tax. But being close to the Awami League government, no one dared to conduct an operation against Saif Powertech. That is why the government has not received a single taka of revenue even though these vehicles have been running for years without registration.

However, to know about these complaints, the Managing Director of Saif Powertech Tarafdar Md. Ruhul Amin was contacted but could not be found. An official of the organization said on the condition of anonymity, around the election of Bangladesh Football Federation Ruhul Amin has been busy in Dhaka for several days. 

In order to advance the reform process, the chief advisor of the interim government is having discussions with some other political parties on Saturday. Muhammad Yunus.

In this round, Gano Forum, LDP, Jatiyatabadi Sammana Jot, 12 parties, National Mukti Council, Labor Party and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) will participate in the discussion.

The chief adviser's dialogue with political parties has been going on since October 5. Discussions with all parties were not completed due to Puja holidays.

On August 8 an interim government was formed under the leadership of Dr. Yunus. Later, various political parties held dialogues with the chief adviser Dr. Mohammad Yunus. The Jatiya Party (JP) was called in this dialogue. However, the party has not yet been called to the discussion.

On October 5, the dialogue started with the chief adviser's discussion with the BNP at the State Guest House Jamuna. After that dialogue was held one by one with Jamaat-e-Islami, Ganatantra Manch Hefazet Islam, Left Democratic Alliance, Islamic Andolan, AB Party and Gana Adhikar Parishad.

By the way, the chief adviser Dr. Yunus in his address to the nation on September 11 announced the formation of six commissions for reforms in electoral system, police, judiciary, public administration, constitution and anti-corruption. After that the commissions started working when the notification was issued formally forming the commission. Then last Thursday, the government announced the formation of a reform commission for health, media, labor rights and women's affairs.