TCB Dealer Appointments Go Digital, Target to Finish Before Ramadan
The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has introduced a digital system to bring transparency and accountability to its dealer appointment process and reduce applicants' hassle. The organisation has set a target of completing the entire new dealer appointment process before the upcoming holy Ramadan.
TCB Chairman Brigadier General Mohammad Faisal Azad told the media that dealer appointment applications were previously received manually, but from now on interested people can apply online from home. They will also be able to know the progress of their application online.
He said activities to appoint new dealers were under way in various areas. At the same time, applicants' information is being verified in the field.
Under the new system, applications submitted online are sent to the respective deputy commissioners. Applicants' information is verified through the district administration and investigated in the field. The investigation report is sent to the relevant authority for subsequent evaluation.
A three-member evaluation committee is working to take the final decision on dealer appointments. The committee includes a representative of the commerce ministry. The committee decides on dealer appointments after reviewing the district administration's investigation report.
The TCB chairman said progress of the appointment process largely depends on receiving investigation reports from the respective district administrations. Reports from all districts have not yet been received. For this reason, completing the process is taking some time.
He said there is a target to complete at least 50 percent of the new dealer appointments by December this year. TCB wants to finish the remaining appointments before the upcoming Ramadan as well.
The initiative to appoint new dealers was taken after extending by three months the renewal deadline for dealers whose licences were due for renewal in 2026. The aim of the initiative is to maintain continuity of TCB's distribution activities and strengthen oversight in dealer selection.
Under the previous system, dealer appointment applications and related activities were completed manually. In the new digital system, after applications are received online, information is verified in the field through the district administration. The evaluation committee then reviews the investigation report and decides on appointments.
TCB believes that with the combination of online applications, district-level information verification and evaluation through the committee, dealer appointments under the new system will be more transparent and accountable. At the same time, it will be possible to strengthen preparations for product distribution activities before Ramadan.
