Fertiliser Warehouses Inspected, Dealers Warned After Daily Inqilab Report

The upazila administration has taken action following reports published in Daily Inqilab and several other newspapers alleging that BCIC dealers and sub-dealers in Brahmanpara, Cumilla, were selling fertiliser above government-fixed prices during the peak of the current Aman season.

Local farmers were struggling as dealers charged Tk 7 to Tk 8 more per kilogram of fertiliser than the stipulated price. The dealers claimed that rising transportation costs had forced them to sell fertiliser at higher prices.
Following the publication of the reports, the upazila administration and the agriculture office conducted special drives and awareness activities across the upazila throughout Wednesday.

During the drives, officials inspected the warehouses and fertiliser storage facilities of various BCIC dealers and sub-dealers across the upazila. They also conducted awareness activities and intensified monitoring.
Those present included Brahmanpara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Munni Islam, Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Abdul Matin, Agriculture Extension Officer Mokhlesur Rahman and sub-assistant agriculture officers from various blocks.

During the inspections, dealers and sub-dealers were sternly warned. The upazila administration made it clear that anyone selling fertiliser even one taka above the government-fixed price or attempting to create an artificial shortage would face heavy fines and strict legal action, including punishment through mobile courts.
According to the upazila agriculture office, Brahmanpara has 10 registered BCIC dealers and 72 registered sub-dealers under them across its eight unions.

The upazila administration said monitoring would continue regularly to ensure that fertiliser was supplied to farmers at the correct prices in accordance with government directives.