Allegations of irregularities and corruption in the sale of fertilizer have been raised against government-appointed BCIC dealers in Goalanda, Rajbari.
The investigation revealed that the official price of DAP fertilizer at the farmer level is 21 taka per kg, of which the price per 50 kg bag is 1,050 taka. But BCIC dealers are making more profit by selling it to retail fertilizer sellers for 1,350 taka to 1,500 taka per bag.
In addition, although there is a rule to distribute DAP fertilizer equally among retailers and sub-dealers, it is not being done properly.
There are allegations that BCIC dealers are keeping the allocated fertilizer under their own control and selling it at high profits only to a few selected fertilizer retailers and to sub-dealers who do not have valid licenses.
Daulatdia Union Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Md. Imran Hossain said, "I when I protested these issues, the dealers falsely accused me of demanding a bribe of Tk 10,000 . I was transferred from here without any investigation by the authorities into the allegations.
The investigation also revealed that the warehouses or shops of the BCIC dealers listed in Goalanda Upazila are supposed to be in their respective unions. But the warehouses and shops of each dealer are located in Goalanda Bazar. They have been running their business in this way for a long time by managing the concerned people of the Agriculture Department. This is causing suffering and additional expenses to the common farmers and the retail fertilizer sellers at the union level.
Farmers from Char Daulatdia area, including Musa Sheikh, Muslim Saudagar, Akkas Sheikh, Hasem Ali and others, said that the official price written on the sack of DAP sir is 1050 taka. But we have to buy it from the retail market for 1500 to 1600 taka. Along with this, fertilizer traders force them to buy other things including pesticides, vitamins.
During the conversation, some sub-dealers of the upazila, on condition of anonymity, admitted to the allegation of charging an excessive price for fertilizer. They said, we have to buy DAP fertilizer from BCIC dealers at a higher price. In this case, they do not give us any purchase receipt. If we ask for a receipt, they threaten us that we will not be supplied with fertilizer later. So, without any hassle, we sell it to the farmer level with a profit of only 50 taka per sack from the purchase price.
Regarding the allegations, BCIC dealer Khondaker Nuruzzaman Mia's son Alif, Hossain Ali Bepari, Faruk Howlader, Palash Kumar Saha, and Nurul Haque Mollah claimed that the allegations against them of selling fertilizer at excessive prices were not true.
Rajbari District Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director (DD) Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam said, "We have heard complaints about selling fertilizer at excessive prices. Apart from this, other complaints are being investigated. If the allegations against anyone are found to be true, legal action will be taken."
Goalanda UNO Uono Sathi Das said, "There is no opportunity to charge more than the government price from farmers. We have already received complaints and I will take action after talking to the agriculture officer and investigating."
