A shortage of cartridge paper in the court area of Habiganj has severely hampered judicial proceedings, causing the little that is occasionally available to be sold for up to almost 20 times its regular price.
Lawyers in Habiganj allege that this is a manufactured crisis.
Meanwhile, Habiganj Deputy Commissioner Mahmudul Kabir Murad said the cartridge paper crisis has been resolved, with 100 reams of paper having been brought.
According to sources, the treasury department of the district administration supplies the cartridge paper to lawyers and associates via a specific vendor. As this paper is used for most official purposes, it is in high demand and its crisis is a big blow to the entire judicial system.
Despite the government having set the price of cartridge paper between Tk3-5, a cartridge crisis began in June last year, and cartridges are now being sold at wildly inflated prices that range from Tk30 to Tk80.
According to court sources, cartridges have been especially scant over the last four weeks, while others say that vendors only supply cartridges if paid an inflated price.
Local man Selim Khan said: “This paper shortage has made it very difficult to conduct court proceedings. Dealers only supply them when they are paid a highly-inflated amount.”
Aktar Hossain, a resident of Azmeriganj, said: “If the authorities monitor and control the situation, it will no longer pose a problem. In the current circumstances, it is very difficult to conduct judicial proceedings. When we went to file a case, our lawyer said they were out of cartridge paper. When he took us to the vendor, he said they were out of cartridge paper. However, after he was offered extra money, he said he would arrange for it.”
Cartridge paper dealer Ataur Rahman said: “There is an ongoing shortage of cartridge paper, but we are not extorting people for it.”
Another dealer Abdus Samad said: “When we went to the deputy commissioner for cartridge paper, he said it was not available, and that we would get it when it is. I have heard some people are charging extra for it, but I have not done this.
Habiganj lawyer Advocate Shafiqul Islam said: “There has been a cartridge paper crisis here for a long time, but this is a ‘manufactured’ crisis. This is a very serious issue. Despite asking the authorities for cartridge paper many times, the situation remains the same. We hope they help us soon.”
Habiganj Deputy Commissioner Mahmudul Kabir Murad said: “After a crisis of cartridge paper began plaguing the judicial system here, we asked the higher authorities to help us. They gave us 100 reams of paper, and we have already distributed them among official vendors. They have also told us that more will follow.
“However, if certain people wish to create a shortage for their own profit, we will monitor the situation and take action against them,” he said.
