Inquiry exposes dealer abuse

Farmers’ growing frustration over access to fertiliser has exposed alleged irregularities in its distribution in Kurigram, with an investigation finding evidence of wrongdoing by a local dealer and recommending cancellation of his dealership.

The inquiry followed an incident in which frustrated farmers broke through a warehouse fence and took away 225 sacks of fertiliser in Bhurungamari upazila, highlighting the difficulties faced by farmers in obtaining an essential agricultural input during the distribution period.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to allow retail sellers involved in chemical fertiliser distribution to continue operating until further notice.

Retailers will be permitted to purchase fertiliser from authorised main dealers and sell it to farmers at government-set prices, according to a directive issued today by the Agriculture Ministry’s Fertiliser Management and Monitoring Wing.

The circular, signed by Dr Muhammad Jahangir Alam, joint secretary at the ministry, said, “Until further instructions are given, retail sellers will continue to buy fertiliser from ap

proved main dealers and sell it to farmers at government-fixed prices.”
Copies of the circular were sent to the director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension, the chairmen of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), as well as divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

It was also forwarded to district and upazila fertiliser and seed monitoring committees, relevant government offices, and the Bangladesh Fertilizer Association (BFA).

However, incident regarding fertiliser took place on Sunday afternoon at the warehouse of Shah Amanat Enterprise in Dhaldanga Bazar under Shilkhuri union, according to an official of the upazila administration.

A five-member committee formed by the upazila administration on August 23 to investigate the incident submitted its report to Bhurungamari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amrita Deb Nath the following evening.

The investigation found discrepancies involving Taifur Rahman Mukul, the dealer of Shah Amanat Enterprise, Amrita said.

According to the inquiry, fertiliser distribution was scheduled to begin at 9:00am on August 23, but the dealer delayed the process, causing a large crowd of farmers to gather at the warehouse.

“The situation could have been avoided if the distribution had started on time,” Amrita said.

The investigation also found allegations that the dealer had failed to distribute fertiliser to genuine farmers and instead sold it through other business channels.

The committee identified discrepancies in cash memos and registers.

It also found allegations that farmers were told fertiliser was unavailable, while supplies were allegedly being sold to other shopkeepers.

Following the findings, the upazila agriculture officer issued a show-cause notice to the dealer. Although Mukul submitted an explanation, the authorities found it unsatisfactory.

An upazila-level meeting subsequently decided to recommend cancellation of his dealership.

The recommendation has been sent to the deputy commissioner. Following a decision by the district monitoring committee, it will be forwarded to the divisional commissioner for a final decision.

The incident has raised concerns over the distribution of subsidised fertiliser and the difficulties farmers face when supplies do not reach them through the designated channels.

Authorities’ recommendation to cancel the dealership is now awaiting decisions at the district and divisional levels.