The government has always given priority to agriculture to achieve self-sufficiency in food, and it has paid off: the country is now self-sufficient in food. The farm sector enjoys subsidies and other benefits, and to keep production going, fertiliser is supplied to farmers at low prices with a subsidy. TSP (triple super phosphate) is one of the main subsidised fertilisers. A ring is abusing this government benefit: under cover of transporting fertiliser, it is adulterating it and spreading the adulterated fertiliser across the country. A syndicate of some transport contractors is involved.

It is alleged that weaknesses in the contracts signed with fertiliser transport contractors let the ring adulterate fertiliser easily, and that some officials of TSP Complex Limited (TSPCL), the state-owned producer, are colluding.

In 2021 the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) built several godowns across the country for the Bangladesh Fertilizer Association (BFA). BCIC stores fertiliser produced at state factories in BFA godowns at district level and supplies local dealers from there. Although the buffer godowns were built to curb adulteration and market syndicates, the benefit has not come. Transport contractors now adulterate the fertiliser before it reaches the buffer godowns, so BFA unknowingly supplies adulterated fertiliser to dealers.

In March this year adulterated fertiliser was caught at the BFA godown in Jashore, and a case was filed with Jashore Kotwali police station against two people, a contractor and a representative. Both accused got bail from the High Court. Since then police have not brought anyone else to book; not even the drivers and helpers of the trucks police seized have been brought under the law.

According to TSPCL, TSP fertiliser was sent to the Bogura buffer godown in three consignments on 18 trucks between 27 and 29 August from the TSP Complex factory at Patenga in Chattogram: 12 trucks on 27 August, five on 28 August and one on 29 August. Seven of these trucks reached the Bogura buffer godown on the morning of 29 August. That morning, while unloading one truck (Dhaka Metro-Ta-16-9883), buffer godown manager Mostafa Kamal noticed the TSP differed from what had been delivered before. Seeing inconsistencies in the sacks, he stopped the unloading and wrote to the TSP managing director. The Bogura deputy commissioner, on learning of it, ordered samples from the seven trucks to be collected and tested quickly. The next day (30 August) all the trucks reached the Bogura buffer godown. The fertiliser was being carried by M/s MHR Corporation of MH Bhaban in the Dewanhat area of Chattogram city, with a man named Abu Taher acting as its representative.

Mostafa Kamal, manager (administration) of Jamuna Fertilizer Company and manager of the Bogura buffer godown, told Jago News: "Because it differed from the fertiliser that had come to the buffer godown before, I stopped unloading on 29 August. We then informed the TSP authorities and the local district administration." TSPCL formed a three-member committee headed by its chief chemist Rezaul Haque, with TSPCL manager (administration) Mazharul Islam as a member and assistant manager (administration) Awal Hossain as member secretary. On 30 August the committee went to Bogura and took samples from the 18 trucks.

The Bogura district administration's investigation team had the samples tested at the Soil Resource Development Institute in Rajshahi and found adulterated fertiliser in all the trucks. The TSP investigation committee submitted its report on the night of 1 September, saying adulterated fertiliser was found in nine trucks, including the seven.

Rezaul Haque, head of the TSPCL committee, told Jago News: "We took samples from 18 trucks and have already submitted the report. On the basis of the report, the TSP authorities have begun action against the contractor. The sample tests found the fertiliser was adulterated."

On 2 September, TSPCL manager (administration) Mazharul Islam filed a case with Bogura Sadar police station against 18 people, including Md Moazzem Hossain, owner of the transport contractor M/s MHR Corporation. The contractor's representative Md Abu Taher and the drivers and helpers of the trucks that carried the adulterated fertiliser were named as accused. RAB and police have arrested 18 people in the case, but the main contractor Moazzem Hossain and representative Abu Taher have not been arrested.

The trucks that carried adulterated fertiliser were Dhaka Metro-Ta-18-9883, Dhaka Metro-Ta-18-0587, Bogura-Ta-11-1049, Dhaka Metro-Ta-16-9323, Dhaka Metro-Ta-14-5401, Dhaka Metro-Ta-14-7834, Dhaka Metro-Ta-16-5385, Dhaka Metro-Ta-18-7523 and Dhaka Metro-Ta-14-0899. A total of 126 tonnes of adulterated fertiliser was found on these trucks.

Selim Reza, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bogura Sadar police station, told Jago News on Saturday (3 September) that a case over adulterated fertiliser had been filed on behalf of the TSP Complex, and 18 people, the drivers and helpers of nine trucks, had been arrested.

The TSP Complex in Chattogram sends fertiliser to 25 BFA godowns across the country, using several transport contractors, many of whom have become involved in adulteration and black-market rings. Most recently, the TSP Complex sent 252 tonnes of fertiliser on 18 trucks to the Bogura buffer godown, of which 126 tonnes were found adulterated. The transport was the responsibility of M/s MHR Corporation.

According to TSP sources, MHR Corporation was contracted on 3 January this year to carry 20,125 tonnes of TSP to 10 buffer godowns, and has been transporting fertiliser since. Under the contract and work order, it was to carry:

• 2,250 tonnes to Bogura at Tk 2,500 a tonne
• 1,500 tonnes to Rajshahi at Tk 2,600 a tonne
• 2,250 tonnes to Baghabari in Sirajganj at Tk 2,550 a tonne
• 1,500 tonnes to Gaibandha at Tk 2,850 a tonne
• 1,500 tonnes to the Mohendranagar buffer godown in Lalmonirhat at Tk 3,050 a tonne
• 1,750 tonnes to Dinajpur at Tk 3,100 a tonne
• 1,500 tonnes to Thakurgaon at Tk 3,100 a tonne
• 3,000 tonnes to the Tekerhat godown in Madaripur at Tk 2,900 a tonne
• 1,875 tonnes to Ashuganj Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited in Brahmanbaria at Tk 2,000 a tonne
• 3,000 tonnes to Shahjalal Fertilizer Company Limited in Sylhet at Tk 2,500 a tonne

In all, 20,125 tonnes of TSP were to be carried for Tk 5 crore 41 lakh 37 thousand 500, including unloading, stacking and VAT.

Investigation found that since winning the transport contract, M/s MHR Corporation had been adulterating fertiliser together with Mizanur Rahman of M/s Moon Enterprise, a transport trader of Majhirghat, who has a strong syndicate of truck owners and drivers. Mizanur Rahman had also been involved in adulterating the consignment caught earlier in Jashore.

Moazzem Hossain, owner of M/s MHR Corporation, said: "There was no adulteration in our fertiliser. We have been framed." Asked about his links with Mizanur Rahman of M/s Moon Enterprise, he denied the whole matter: "I don't know Moon Enterprise or anyone named Mizan. I have no business with anyone like that."

His own manager's account differed. Asfak Uddin Ahmed Hiru, manager of M/s MHR Corporation, told Jago News on Saturday: "We are TSP's carrying contractor; we transport. We carry the products of eight BCIC organisations. We have carried 10 lakh tonnes of BADC fertiliser." Asked about Moon Enterprise, he said: "Moon Enterprise always supplies us with vehicles. He is the big culprit. He has put us in trouble. For 30 years we have carried lakhs of tonnes of goods. We have no bad record."

Jago News called Mizanur Rahman, owner of M/s Moon Enterprise, on his mobile phone for several days. He first answered, then, on learning the caller was a journalist, said he was busy and hung up. When called on Saturday afternoon, the phone was answered by a man named Sagor, who said: "I am an employee of Moon Enterprise and work in the office. I know nothing about sir. Yesterday (Friday) morning sir (Mizanur Rahman) left his phone in the office and went out. He has not come back to the office yet. I have not been in touch with him."

Those arrested over the Bogura adulteration told RAB in initial questioning that the adulterated fertiliser was loaded onto the Bogura-bound trucks at Hemayetpur in Savar. There, the genuine TSP was unloaded and adulterated fertiliser prepared in advance was loaded onto the trucks.

Rogue transport contractors exploit weaknesses in the contract terms. Clause 3(jha) of the contract with M/s MHR Corporation says trucks must be used for transport, and TSP lifted from TSPCL must reach the relevant BFA or factory godown within seven days at most. If not, a fine of Tk 2 per tonne per day is charged for the next seven days, and if the fertiliser still has not arrived, Tk 3 per tonne per day for the following seven days. TSPCL deducts the fines from the transport bill.

Analysis of this clause shows that if a truck (carrying 14 tonnes) does not reach its destination within seven days of loading, the fine at Tk 2 a tonne comes to Tk 28 a day, or Tk 196 over seven days. For the next seven days at Tk 3 a tonne it is Tk 42 a day, or just Tk 294 over seven days. So if the fertiliser arrives 20 days after loading, the fine per truck is only Tk 490, while carrying 14 tonnes to that Bogura destination costs Tk 35,000.

TSPCL managing director Engineer Ataur Rahman told Jago News: "We have filed a case over the Bogura adulteration. The process of appointing a lawyer in the Bogura court is under way. We have also informed BCIC so further action can be taken against the contractor. The next steps will follow BCIC's directions."

Separately, on 14 March, 154 tonnes of fertiliser were sent on 11 trucks from the TSP Complex in Chattogram to the Jashore buffer godown, and the next day (15 March) 87 tonnes on six trucks. In all, transport contractor M/s Syed Enterprise took delivery of 241 tonnes of TSP for the Jashore buffer godown. The fertiliser was due in Jashore on 15 and 16 March, but only five trucks arrived, on 17 March. Suspecting adulteration, Jashore buffer godown manager Aktarul Haque stopped unloading the five trucks and informed BCIC and the TSP authorities in writing. TSPCL then formed a three-member investigation committee, which collected and tested samples and found evidence of adulteration.

On 27 March, TSPCL deputy general manager (commercial) Mohammad Solaiman filed a case with Jashore Kotwali Model police station, naming Md Ahsan Habib, owner of M/s Syed Enterprise, and his representative Mohammad Ibrahim Haider as accused. Sub-inspector Ejajul Haque of Jashore Kotwali Model police station is investigating. The two accused got bail from the High Court, and no further progress has been seen in the case.

The investigating officer told Jago News last Saturday that the two accused are on bail from the High Court and that police are preparing to submit the investigation report.

Advocate Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury, general secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) in Chattogram, told Jago News: "The TSP Complex is a state organisation. The government supplies the fertiliser it produces to farmers with a subsidy. There is a syndicate in adulterating and smuggling that fertiliser. Yet the TSP Complex authorities are not seen taking effective steps to prevent adulteration. This suggests they are close to the smuggling syndicate. When fertiliser is adulterated, farmers suffer the most."

TSPCL managing director Engineer Ataur Rahman told Jago News that a case had been filed against transport contractor Syed Enterprise over the supply of adulterated fertiliser in Jashore and is under investigation. "In that incident we recovered compensation for the fertiliser from the contractor's security deposit. The contractor later filed two writs in the High Court. One was dismissed; they (the contractor) won the other. We will appeal against it," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.