United News of Bangladesh

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid on Wednesday told Parliament that there is no scope for selling fertilisers at higher prices as the government is closely monitoring fertiliser management with highest priority. “The government is fully aware of the issue and fertiliser management is being monitored with utmost importance. However, no complaint has been received against any BCIC dealer for selling fertilisers at higher prices,” he said. The minister said this while replying to a scripted question from opposition (Jamaat) lawmaker Md Mujibur Rahman (Rajshahi-1) in the House. In his question, Mujibur Rahman alleged that chemical fertilisers were being sold at high prices—ranging between Tk 1,600 and Tk 2,000— at Tanore and Godagari areas in Rajshahi, instead of government-fixed rates. He also claimed that farmers were sometimes receiving less fertiliser than required. He wanted to know whether the government was aware of such irregularities, and if there were any plans to deploy special task forces or mobile courts to monitor the situation and ensure exemplary punishment, including licence cancellation of unscrupulous dealers. Responding to the question, the agriculture minister said fertiliser sales are being conducted in the presence of Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers at every dealer point. He added that government-fixed price lists are prominently displayed on red cloth or banners at visible places in each shop. He further said that fertiliser is being sold only after verifying genuine farmers, and details including name, address and mobile number are recorded in cash memos. The information is being verified during the shops by the authorities concerned, he said. Amin Ur Rashid also said that fertiliser and seed monitoring committees are active at both district and upazila levels to oversee the overall fertilizer situation, including fertiliser supply, storage, pricing situation, and dealer activities. District-level committees are chaired by Deputy Commissioners (DC), while Upazila-level committees are led by Upazila Nirbachi Officers (UNO). Besides, provisions are in place to deploy special task forces and mobile courts, with support from local administration , to directly monitor field-level situations and take action if any irregularities are found, he added.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid Tuesday said the government has secured a sufficient stock of urea fertiliser to meet national demand until mid-July and is actively negotiating with international partners to ensure future supplies. Responding to a supplementary question from an independent lawmaker elected from Brahmanbaria-2 Rumeen Farhana, the minister confirmed to the Parliament that discussions are currently underway with Qatar and Saudi Arabia—Bangladesh’s primary urea suppliers. He noted that a special representative (Adviser) has already been dispatched to Qatar by the Prime Minister to expedite the procurement process. "We hope there will be no major problem in ensuring fertiliser supply," the minister assured the House. Addressing concerns regarding the potential cessation of private sector imports for non-urea fertilisers from the 2026–27 fiscal year, the minister said the government is currently reviewing the import framework. He explained that while the system was previously managed through government-to-government (G2G) arrangements, the later introduction of private sector involvement created certain complications. The government is now reassessing the system to determine the most beneficial approach for farmers and the national economy.  In response to a query from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Anwarul Islam (Kurigram-1) regarding agricultural development in the char areas of Kurigram, Minister Rashid promised a written response following a detailed review of specific proposals concerning agricultural credit, irrigation, and farm inputs. The minister also addressed the issue of fair pricing for marginal farmers, particularly those growing onions and potatoes. He highlighted the introduction of a new, low-cost onion storage technology that uses air circulation and minimal electricity to preserve crops for up to three months, helping farmers avoid distress sales. Govt recommends urea fertiliser import from UAE company Furthermore, the minister announced the introduction of a digital agriculture card system at the union and block levels. This digital platform will eventually house comprehensive data on production and marketing to streamline service delivery and modernization. Reiterating the government's commitment to farmer-friendly policies, the minister concluded that identifying field-level needs remains a top priority to strengthen the rural economy and ensure a stable supply of agricultural inputs across the country.