Farmers complain they cannot get fertiliser when they go to the shop, yet on Monday 11 bags left that shut shop for a village in another union, Desh Rupantor's Shibalay correspondent reports. Retail fertiliser dealer Maruf Hossain's shop at Jamduara bazar in Teota union of Manikganj's Shibalay upazila is not regularly open, residents allege.

According to local people, four bags of MOP and seven of TSP were sent by auto-rickshaw at about 2pm on Monday, 21 September, to Abdus Salam of Shakrail village in Shimulia union. Abdus Salam said by phone that he had taken 11 bags from Maruf Hossain, his cousin, but could not say at what price or whether the upazila agriculture office had permitted the transfer to another area.

Farmers and traders say the shop is usually closed and, when it opens, shuts again soon after, so farmers go home empty-handed. It was found closed at noon on Monday; neighbouring traders said fertiliser was in stock. Ananda Kumar Ghosh, the BADC dealer for Teota union, said Maruf Hossain took 20 bags of urea, 20 of TSP and 25 of MOP — 65 bags in all — on the 19th of last month and has taken none this month.

Residents want it checked how much of last month's 65 bags was sold and how much remains, how Monday's 11 bags went elsewhere, and whether sales to farmers are recorded with receipts and in the register.

Miraz Ahmed, block officer and sub-assistant agriculture officer for Teota, said he joined Shibalay a month ago and had been busy compiling the farmers' card list; he will inspect the shop on Tuesday and report. Upazila nirbahi officer Manisha Rani Karmakar said the matter would be examined and necessary action taken.

Source: Desh Rupantor — Reporting: Shibalay (Manikganj) correspondent