Bangladesh has adequate stocks of urea, the chairman of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), Dr Mahmudur Rahman, has said. Fertiliser is reaching dealers from BCIC factories and buffer godowns on time as demand requires, he said, and there is no reason to be alarmed by rumours or misleading claims about stock levels.

He made the remarks on Monday while inspecting BCIC fertiliser godowns at Nilphamari, Mahendranagar in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram.

During the inspection, stock in the godowns was counted stack by stack and verified in the presence of representatives of the local district administration and the deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension. The chairman said the godowns hold enough urea to meet national demand to November 2026.

Three domestic fertiliser plants are producing about 5,000 tonnes of urea a day, he said, and imports are also under way. Fertiliser from these sources will cover demand in the coming peak season.

After the inspection he joined an exchange meeting at the Kurigram deputy commissioner's conference room with the deputy commissioner, the superintendent of police, the deputy director of agricultural extension, upazila nirbahi and agriculture officers, leaders of the Bangladesh Fertilizer Association and fertiliser dealers.

He told the meeting that local administrations must step up monitoring so that no interest group can create an artificial shortage, raise prices or spread rumours. A tag officer has been posted at every factory and buffer godown to ensure fertiliser reaches farmers through dealers, and distribution from godowns has been kept open all seven days of the week, Friday and Saturday included.

Source: Samakal (staff correspondent)