The administration in Khansama upazila of Dinajpur has seized about 1,600 sacks of illegally and excessively stocked chemical fertiliser in three separate raids. Two fertiliser dealers were fined a total of Tk 90,000 and a regular case was ordered against a third trader.

On Friday, 11 September, a raid on M/s Asaduzzaman Traders, a BCIC-approved dealer at Tongua Bazar, turned up 207 sacks — 94 of DAP, 55 of urea and 58 of MOP. A mobile court fined the business Tk 50,000.

The same day, 450 sacks were seized from the godown of M/s Mahadev Traders at Pakerhat. BADC dealer Mahitosh Chandra Chanda was fined Tk 40,000 and the godown was sealed.

On Thursday, acting on a tip-off, the administration had raided a godown of Roni Traders at Pakerhat Bazar and seized about 920 sacks. As the godown's owner, Md Mozaharul Islam, was absent, the district executive magistrate ordered a regular case to be filed against him.

Khansama upazila nirbahi officer Md Kamruzzaman Sarkar said the drives will continue to protect farmers' interests, prevent an artificial fertiliser shortage and ensure supply at the government-fixed price. The seized fertiliser will be distributed among farmers under government rules and the proceeds deposited in the treasury.

Demand for fertiliser is high as aman fields get their last dressing and the rabi season approaches; dealer-level hoarding puts the question of whether farmers actually get fertiliser at the official price back on the table.

Source: banglanews24