Gas crisis hampers fertiliser production

The Public Undertakings Committee of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad has recommended taking necessary steps to increase domestic fertiliser production and reduce dependence on imports to address shortages and lower costs.

The recommendation was made at a meeting of the committee held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday. Chief Whip and committee chair Nurul Islam Moni presided over the meeting.

The committee reviewed the activities of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and its affiliated organisations, as well as the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).

The meeting also discussed the production, storage and distribution of chemical fertilisers in detail.
Ministry officials informed the committee that Jamuna Fertiliser Factory had produced fertiliser for only three days over the past two years due to a gas shortage. Production at Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory, meanwhile, has remained suspended for the past 19 months.

The committee sought details of the ministry’s future plans for closed and laid-off fertiliser factories. It also recommended taking steps to reopen closed plants and modernise older factories to increase domestic production capacity.

The committee further recommended developing a digital real-time monitoring system to ensure an uninterrupted fertiliser supply chain.

It also called for reviewing measures that could be taken to cancel the licences of dealers found responsible for creating artificial shortages.

The committee recommended taking necessary measures to make the country self-sufficient in seed production.

It also asked BADC to present detailed plans at the next meeting on increasing food production in line with population growth.

The meeting was attended by the secretary and additional secretary of the Ministry of Industries, officials from relevant ministries and departments, and representatives of BCIC, BADC and their affiliated organisations.