Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Agriculture Md. Shahadat Hossain on Monday said now there is no fertiliser crisis in the country, with sufficient stocks available to meet demand.
“The artificial crisis created around fertiliser distribution management has been resolved through prompt and effective intervention,” he said while chairing the second meeting of the committee at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Shahadat Hossain said if fertiliser factories could continue production at full capacity, the country might be able to meet domestic demand and create opportunities to export surplus fertiliser in the future.
Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid attended the meeting on invitation of the committee Chairman.
Committee members Shohidul Islam, Mostafizur Rahman, Rokon Uddin Bablu, Mujibur Rahman Choudhury, Sabira Sultana and Golam Rasul attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the ministry officials presented a detailed update on the progress in implementing the decisions taken at the first meeting of the parliamentary committee.
The committee recommended taking necessary action over allegations of irregularities and inconsistencies in fertiliser dealer appointments in different areas.
It suggested that contracts for dealerships where agreements have not yet been signed should remain suspended until the allegations are resolved.
In cases where agreements have already been signed, the allegations should be properly investigated and necessary action taken, said the parliamentary body.
The committee particularly recommended that allegations relating to dealer appointments in Lalmonirhat, Barguna, Satkhira, Faridpur, Naogaon and Jashore districts be considered seriously and addressed accordingly.
Following a proposal by committee member Mostafizur Rahman, the committee formed a three-member body to conduct on-site inspections of fertiliser distribution, stockpiling and management to know whether there is any illegal stockpiling, marketing and other irregularities for identifying problems and formulating specific recommendations to address them.
Mostafizur Rahman was made convener of the body, with Rokon Uddin Bablu and Sabira Sultana as members.
Agriculture Secretary Salim Khan and chiefs of departments under the ministry were present.