United News of Bangladesh

Jamuna Fertiliser Factory produced fertiliser for only three days over the past two years due to gas shortages, while production at Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory has remained suspended for 19 months. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday, with Chief Whip and committee chairman Nurul Islam Moni in the chair. The committee recommended taking necessary measures to increase domestic fertiliser production, reduce dependence on imports, ease fertiliser shortages and cut costs. The committee reviewed the activities of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and its affiliated companies, as well as those of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). The meeting also discussed the production, storage and distribution of chemical fertilisers by BCIC and BADC. The committee sought information on the ministry’s future plans for paid-off  fertiliser factories and reopening closed fertiliser plants. It recommended increasing the production capacity of old fertiliser factories through modernisation. The committee also recommended taking necessary measures to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in seed production in line with the Prime Minister’s directives. It suggested reviewing measures to cancel the licences of dealers who create artificial shortages of fertiliser. The committee further recommended introducing a digital real-time monitoring system to ensure proper fertiliser supply-chain management. It also asked BADC to present detailed information at its next meeting on its future plans to increase food production in line with population growth.

A delegation of six German parliament members will pay an official visit to Bangladesh from February 22 to 26 to “foster the strong ties” between the two nations further, said the German Embassy in Dhaka on Sunday. Renate Kunast, the Chairperson of the German-South Asian Parliamentary Group and a former German Minister, will lead the delegation. Read more: Envoys impressed with facilities for Rohingyas at Bhasan Char: MoFA During the visit, the delegation will meet with representatives of the legislative and executive organs of Bangladesh as well as a variety of members of civil society and business circles. They will discuss with their Bangladeshi counterparts various issues of mutual concern, including the deepening of the 50-year-long bilateral relations, politics, climate change, human rights, trade, migration, development cooperation and women empowerment. The delegation consists of Renate Künast, MP; Dr André Hahn, MP; Paul Lehrieder, MP; Ria Schröder, MP; Andreas Larem, MP and Dr Malte Kaufmann, MP.