Illegal fertilizer import in Guimara upazila

 

Own reporter

Chemical and organic fertilizers are the main tools of agriculture for the farmers of agriculture. Fertilizers are supplied by the Government of Bangladesh to all the districts and upazilas as per the demand through licensed dealers and sub-dealers all over Bangladesh.

Some fertilizer traders including Lutfur Rahman Apu and Rinku Pal of Guimara upazila of Khagrachhari district have been illegally procuring adulterated fertilizers from different areas including Fatikchhari, Nazir Hat, Hathazari Chittagong at night without collecting fertilizers from dealers. As a result, the farmers are not able to use this fertilizer and get good yield. Which is having an adverse effect on the country's economy.

On Tuesday morning, June 22 and on Wednesday morning, June 23, Lutfur Rahman Apu, a fertilizer trader from Guimara Bazar, illegally brought fertilizer from Hathazari. While unloading the fertilizer by moon car, it caught the eye of Khagrachhari district and local journalists. When asked to show valid paperwork for import of fertilizer, they could not show any valid paperwork of fertilizer to the journalist.

Later, trader Lutfur Rahman Apu told reporters that the dealer charged more than the fixed price from us and could not supply fertilizer as per the demand. As a result, we collect less fertilizer and demand from other places.

Contacting the son of Haji Abdul Latif, a dealer in Guimaras market, he said he would inform us if they needed fertilizer. However, they are not collecting fertilizer from outside. And we do not charge more than the price fixed by the government. They are buying and selling fertilizers from outside on false pretext. Apu threatens to talk about this.

Guimara Upazila Agriculture Officer Ankar Biswas (Ada) was contacted on the phone to find out about the illegal import of fertilizers. He said there are a total of two dealers in two unions of Guimara Upazila. If a sub-dealer needs fertilizer, it should be taken from the licensed dealers. If the dealers cannot provide fertilizer, they will inform the agriculture officials. However, it is illegal for sub-dealers to collect fertilizer from elsewhere.