Mobile court fines three fertiliser traders in Bauphal

A mobile court has fined three fertiliser traders a total of Tk 14,000 for selling fertiliser at prices higher than those fixed by the government in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali.

The mobile court conducted the drive at Boga Bandar area on Friday, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md Sohag Milu, with assistance from the upazila agriculture department.

During the drive, the authorities found evidence of fertiliser being sold at inflated prices and price lists not being displayed at the shops.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Md Milon said there was sufficient fertiliser in stock in the area. “There is no shortage of fertiliser, yet some traders are selling it at higher prices.

We conducted the drive based on such allegations and found evidence of overcharging. The mobile court subsequently fined them,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) and mobile court judge Md Sohag Milu said there was no scope for selling fertiliser at prices higher than those fixed by the government.”Such drives will continue to ensure strict action against anyone found selling fertiliser at inflated prices,” he said.

Government-approved fertiliser dealer M/s Akhi Enterprise was fined Tk 10,000, while retailers Rashid Khan and Kabir Hossain were fined Tk 2,000 each.

According to the mobile court and agriculture department sources, there is currently no shortage of fertiliser in the country. However, some unscrupulous traders are allegedly creating an artificial crisis and selling fertiliser at prices above the government-fixed rates.

Acting on a tip-off, the authorities conducted the drive and found evidence of the allegations. The traders were subsequently fined under various provisions of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009.