Authorities have seized 1,577 bags of fertiliser in two days during inspections in Khanasama upazila of Dinajpur over allegations of unauthorised stockpiling and irregularities. Those found responsible were fined a total of Tk90,000, while one warehouse was sealed. A case has also been filed against a fertiliser dealer who was reportedly absconding during an inspection.
The latest operations were conducted on Friday (11 September) in different areas of Khanasama. In Pakerhat, officials raided the warehouse of ‘M/s Mahadev Traders’, operated by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) fertiliser dealer Mohitosh Chandra Chanda. A total of 450 bags of fertiliser were seized from the premises.
The seized stock consisted of 350 bags of MOP and 100 bags of DAP. Following the inspection, a mobile court fined the business Tk40,000 and sealed the warehouse.
On the same day, another inspection was carried out at ‘M/s Asaduzzaman Traders’, a Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) fertiliser dealership at Tongua Bazar in the upazila. Officials seized 207 bags of fertiliser, including 94 bags of DAP, 55 bags of urea and 58 bags of MOP. The mobile court imposed a fine of Tk50,000 in connection with the irregularities.
The operations began a day earlier, on Thursday (10 September), when officials inspected the warehouse of ‘M/s Rony Traders’ in Pakerhat. The warehouse is owned by BCIC fertiliser dealer Mojaharul Islam. During the afternoon-to-evening operation, 920 bags of fertiliser were seized.
Of the seized stock, 660 bags were DAP and 260 bags were MOP. Mojaharul Islam was reportedly absent and remained absconding during the operation. A case was subsequently filed against him.
The inspections were conducted by the local administration and agriculture authorities as part of efforts to monitor fertiliser stocks and ensure that farmers receive agricultural inputs at government-fixed prices and within the required timeframe.
Mobile courts were led by Khanasama Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Kamruzzaman Sarker, District Administration Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Adnan Kabir Uday, and Executive Magistrate Monowar Hossain.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ayon Farhan Shams, Upazila Agriculture Officer Yasmin Akter and other officials from the administration and agriculture department were also present during the operations.
Kamruzzaman Sarker said the seized fertiliser would be confiscated in favour of the state and subsequently sold to local farmers at the government-fixed price. He added that proceeds from the sale had been ordered to be deposited into the government treasury.
The upazila executive officer said regular monitoring was being carried out at fertiliser dealers’ warehouses and sales centres to ensure a steady supply at official prices. Dealers and traders found to be keeping fertiliser beyond their authorised limits, attempting to create artificial shortages or harassing farmers would face legal action, he said.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Yasmin Akter said fertiliser dealers had been warned several times to comply with the prescribed rules governing storage and sales. Despite those warnings, legal measures were now being taken over allegations of keeping fertiliser stocks in breach of the instructions.
The two-day enforcement drive highlights the administration’s focus on monitoring fertiliser distribution at the local level, particularly to prevent excessive stockpiling from affecting farmers’ access to essential agricultural inputs. The authorities said the seized fertiliser would be made available to local farmers through sale at the government-set price.
