Two markets leased to lower bidders in Nilphamari

Boragari Haat and Ambari Haat, two big village markets in Domar upazila under the district, have been leased to persons who offered much lower than the highest bidders.

Seeking remedy, the two highest bidders for the two haats filed written complaints to the deputy commissioner (DC) of Nilphamari on March 5.

February 18 was the last date of dropping tender for leasing Domar upazila's 23 haats and bazaars for Bangla year 1422, upazila administration sources said.

After verifying the relevant tender documents the same day, the  lease committee declared Alamgir Badsa and Md Bablu as highest bidders for Boragari and Ambari haats in presence of people at the upazila nirbahi officer's (UNO) office.

Alamgir Badsa offered highest Tk 31.51 lakh for lease of Boraghari haat and deposited as security money Tk 10.23 lakh in five security deposit receipts (SDR) issued by Janata Bank while Md Bablu offered highest Tk 21.34 lakh for Ambari Haat and deposited Tk 6.40 lakh in seven bank drafts and pay orders issued by Sonali Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, the two persons mentioned in the complaint to the DC.

But a group of men belonging to front organisations of ruling Awami League (AL) started vandalism in the UNO office and pressed for leasing the two big haats to their men instead of the highest bidders, terming them as Razakars (people opposing the country's independence), they said.

The UNO suspended finalising the names of lessees for the two haats that day but on February 26, he declared Saider and Abdul Hamid as lessees for Boragari Haat and Ambari Haat although they offered much lower lease money -- Tk 15.75 lakh and Tk 20.35 lakh respectively, the two complainants mentioned.

Domar UNO Md Shafiur Rahman said Alamgir Badsha were not considered as bidders as Shafiur deposited security money with SDR violating the directive to deposit money with bank draft or pay order and there was problem in the tender documents of Md Bablu.

Asked about non-acceptance of SDR by Domar UNO, Janata Bank Domar branch Manager Ziaur Rahman said SDR bears the same value as bank draft and pay order and in the past it was not dishonoured in case of tender.

Md Bablu, also son of a freedom fighter, said he had come to know that someone might have removed one of his bank drafts from his tender documents kept in the upazila parishad custody to make him unfit in the tender process.

DC of Nilphamari Zakir Hossain said, "I have received complaints regarding the matter. The government's revenue collection is a priority and so, the problems will be solved according to the rules.”