Allegations of corruption rampant in Gumra Market as government shops rented out at exorbitant rates

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Rampant corruption allegations have surfaced in Gumra Market, where government shops are being leased out at exorbitant rates, allegedly siphoning off hefty sums from local businessmen, many of whom have been running businesses in the area for 30 to 40 years.

Various syndicates, along with some political figures, are accused of orchestrating this malpractice, as highlighted by both former businessmen and local youths of the Gumra Market area.

Local business owners came forward to the media, alleging that small-scale traders are being coerced by brokers to pay hefty sums ranging from one to two lakh taka per shop for leasing government-owned shops.

Despite repeated demands for reasonable rates, ordinary traders and local unemployed youths are being deprived of the opportunity to rent government shops.

The authorities have even blocked the leasing of shops belonging to long-established businessmen who have been operating in the same location for decades, demanding inflated sums of money.

Additionally, it has been reported that for the renewal of shop leases, businessmen are being forced to pay twice the amount mentioned in the receipts.

 Moreover, in several shops in Gumra Market, rich individuals, including coal and stone traders, have been given leases, even though they never conduct business there, leaving those shops vacant and depriving genuine local businessmen of a place in the market.

Some brokers are reportedly leasing government shops under their own names and renting them out to small-scale traders at inflated rates.

Locals have voiced grave concerns, stating that influential figures from political parties like Kartik Tati and Gautam Vaishnav are exploiting their relatives' and acquaintances' names to secure government shop leases.

Local residents emphasize that despite circulating videos exposing such malpractices, no action has been taken to address the situation.

They warn that if the leasing of government shops in Gumra Market is not conducted according to government regulations, it will escalate into a larger public outcry.