Bangladesh has no shortage of fertiliser, Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, minister for fisheries and livestock, food and agriculture, said on Saturday. Answering reporters after inspecting the grounds of Fulgazi Government Pilot High School in Feni, he said fertiliser that should be with dealers was turning up in the hands of people who were not dealers, and that these 'bad actors' were hurting society, farmers and the nation.

The ministry has formed several teams to keep watch, the minister said, and the ring would soon fail. His remarks come as complaints about fertiliser supply surface in several districts.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is due to visit Fulgazi next Thursday, and the minister had come to the school grounds to review preparations and the overall situation.

Setting out the government's plans for farmers, Amin Ur Rashid said two crore farmers across the country would be brought under farmer cards, and every farmer would receive one within a set period. Marginal, small, landless, medium and large farmers would all be covered.

He added that the government had waived agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000. A financially strong farmer, he said, makes for a strong national economy.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubul Karim, Superintendent of Police Pratyush Kumar Majumder, Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Kawsar Hamid and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Soheli Noshin Prottasha were present at the inspection.

Source: Prothom Alo