Revision of TCB Family Card is not being completed on time. As a result, it is now very uncertain when the 43 lakh card holder families will get TCB products at low prices. However, in the current market situation, this TCB product can be a big help for poor families – that's what the card holders think. On the other hand, government officials say there is no reason to despair. One crore families in the country will get TCB products before Ramadan, which starts in the last week of February.
It is known that 'one family one card'-this rule was supposed to be the (Trading Corporation of Bangladesh) family card of TCB. However, the Awami League government has used this card as a political tool for a long time. Awami League leaders sometimes gave multiple cards to one family by taking advantage of the families of party workers. A family that has a card in the father's name also has a card in the mother's name. Also, there is a family card of TCB in the name of the son of the same family.
Those concerned said that it was going on like this for a long time. But this is not to be. That is why the current interim government has decided to re-verify TCB's family card. The amount of which is more than 43 lakhs. All district commissioners of the country have been directed to prepare a fresh list by November 15 after completing the verification and send it to the Ministry of Commerce, especially TCB. But it is not possible as the task is complicated as the local government structure is not functional. Those concerned said it will take more time.
Meanwhile, the remote areas of the country are abuzz with the news that '43 lakh cards of TCB have been cancelled'. Many people are coming to the ward councilor's office in the concerned Union Parishad and City Corporation areas to get information about when they will get the TCB products. The City Corporation was dissolved after the political change. Although the Union Parishad was not dissolved, most of the Union Parishad chairmen and ward members are either on the run or in hiding due to their association with Awami League politics. As a result, District Commissioner (DC) and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) are in trouble with the task of verifying the TCB card at the field level.
According to TCB sources, TCB's 4.3 lakh cards have not been cancelled, but the functioning of the cards has been suspended due to widespread irregularities. Because this irregularity has been caught while converting the handwritten cards into smart family cards. It is not yet possible to convert all cards into smart cards due to various complications. So TCB products still have to be distributed on the old handwritten cards. However, TCB sources said that the work of conversion to smart cords is also ongoing along with verification.
According to TCB, out of 1 crore family cards, more than one person in the same family is getting the product. In the absence of local administration or public representatives, it is not possible to properly monitor whether the products are reaching the consumer level properly.
When asked about this, TCB Deputy Director (spokesman) Humayun Kabir told Bangla Tribune that the matter of cancellation of 43 lakh cards of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) due to irregularities is not correct. Out of 1 crore household cards, 5.7 lakh cards have been converted into smart cards. The remaining 43 lakh cards are being converted into smart cards. The information is now being updated and verified. In the meantime, if any irregularity is detected in the card, the card will be cancelled. He also claimed that now all one crore card holders are being given products.
He said that TCB has written four times to various district administrations and city corporations to update the information on converting the cards into smart cards.
Humayun Kabir said, the cardholders have been requested to provide updated information including changes, additions, deletions, modifications (if necessary). But due to the recent changes in the district administration and city corporation, this information is not yet available to TCB. For that, it is taking time to convert the remaining 43 lakh cards into smart cards. He also said that products are being sold to families on old cards.
He said, when one crore handwritten cards were integrated with NID, it was seen that one card was taken in Dhaka with the same NID, and another card may have been taken at home in his village. As a result when we went to verify with NID, 4.3 lakh cards were left out.
TCB Deputy Director (Spokesperson) said, so that a family does not get more than one card, we have taken the initiative to make smart family card. So far 57 lakh smart family cards have been issued. We have written four letters to the district administration and the city corporation to do the rest of the cards. Recently there have been reshuffles in several district administrations. Therefore we are yet to identify the rest of the cards due to not receiving this information from them. This is why it takes time. He also informed about this in a press conference in Dhaka a few days ago.
When asked, Humayun Kabir said that a list of these cards has been verified and sent to TCB by November 15. But if it takes them longer to complete the task, they will take that extra time.
When asked about this, Bela Begum, a resident of Sohagdal Union in Nesharabad Upazila of Pirojpur, told Bangla Tribune over the phone, 'I am not getting TCB products. There is a problem with my card. I went to the Union Parishad office with the old card. They said now there will be a new card. Only then will I get TCB products.'
Abdur Rashid, chairman of that union council, said that TCB card verification work is going on. It will take time to complete the task. Mr. UNO is monitoring the matter.
When asked, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam told Bangla Tribune that there have been irregularities in issuing family cards of TCB in Chittagong as well. A family is supposed to have one card but more than one is given. Besides, there are other irregularities. Those who are not eligible for this card are also given. Through this, many poor families have been deprived of this opportunity given by the government. Chittagong district administration is working to remove all the irregularities and make a beautiful neutral list. ADCs, UNOs, public representatives and student coordinators are also involved in this work.
He said, the work is complicated. Local representatives are not available in many places. In that case the work is being taken forward by involving local dignitaries. It is not possible by November 15, I hope to complete the work by December 31.'
Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arefin told Bangla Tribune that this task has been given to every UNO. They are working with local representatives, dignitaries. In my district there is no such complication with local public representatives. Out of 76 union councils, four union chairmen are absent. Administrators have been appointed there. Elsewhere, work is underway with the panel chairman. So it will not take much time to finalize the list of TCB cardholders.
