Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that market control through syndicates will no longer be allowed in Bangladesh. He made the statement on Saturday morning while inaugurating the country’s first direct farmers’ sales center, ‘Krishoker Hat,’ at Tilaghar in Sylhet city. The initiative, jointly organized by the Sylhet District Administration and the Department of Agricultural Extension, allows marginal farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers without intermediaries.

The minister said the program aims to eliminate market mismanagement that prevents farmers from receiving fair prices while consumers face high costs. As part of the plan, deputy commissioners in every district will ensure that farmers can sell directly to buyers at least once a week. He added that the entire supply chain will be integrated into an AI-generated model to enhance government monitoring and stabilize prices.

Muktadir also announced that the operations of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will be expanded, even as subsidies—currently amounting to about Tk 3,200–3,300 crore annually—are gradually reduced.