Rajshahi, July 17 (V7N) — Regulatory authorities in Rajshahi are facing serious accusations of political bias and procedural misconduct after appointing 30 new fair-price foodgrain dealers to operate in the open market system (OMS) across city wards. The appointments allegedly violate a court directive and have triggered protests from ousted former dealers.
 
The controversy centers on Moin Uddin, Rajshahi’s Regional Food Controller, who reportedly proceeded with new appointments immediately after the term of the existing dealers expired on June 30. Former dealers — many alleging ties to the ruling Awami League among the new appointees — claim that their renewal applications were unjustly ignored, even as their cases remained pending in the high court.
 
The ousted dealers had filed a writ petition challenging the cancellation of their licences, prompting the court to issue a directive allowing them to continue operations until the court resolves the matter. Despite this, the food controller appointed a new batch of dealers from July 1 without acknowledging the ongoing litigation.
 
Former dealers allege:
 
Writ cases were active at the time of dismissal.
 
Renewal requests were denied without explanation.
 
Appointees have close political affiliations with the ruling party.
 
No similar wholesale replacements occurred in other Rajshahi division districts — only in Rajshahi city ward dealers were abruptly replaced.
 
District Food Controller Omar Faruk defended the move, stating that the renewal process was not pursued because the authority had already commenced new appointments. He further advised the displaced dealers to seek justice through the courts. Attempts to obtain comments from Regional Food Controller Moin Uddin—currently abroad in France—were unsuccessful.
 
The former dealers are demanding a full investigation into the hiring process, nullification of the recent appointments, and reinstatement of the original licence holders.
 
END/MRA/SMA/