40 sacks of fertilizer seized during smuggling in Goalanda, dealer fined
Rajbari Correspondent
A mobile court has fined a BCIC fertilizer dealer Tk 40,000 for illegally selling fertilizer outside the designated area in Goalanda, Rajbari.
The raid was conducted at Khandaker Faruk Hossain's BCIC Fertilizer Dealer Point in the Murgi Bazar area adjacent to Goalanda Bazar at around 1 pm on Wednesday.
Goalanda Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md. Muntasir Hasan Khan handed down the sentence through a mobile court. Upazila Agriculture Officer Syed Raihanul Haider was present during the raid.
According to the mobile court sources, according to the fertilizer policy, the dealer is supposed to sell fertilizer to farmers in his own area. But Khandaker Faruk Hossain's company 'Ms. Faruk Dealer' went outside the designated area and sold fertilizer. When the matter was caught in the operation, the company was fined 40 thousand taka under section 45 of the 'Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009'. An order of 10 days' simple imprisonment has also been given for non-payment of the fine.
The fertilizer seized during the raid was ordered to be sold to farmers in designated areas, subject to conditions.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Syed Raihanul Haider said, "We are regularly monitoring to ensure that farmers get fertilizer at a fair price through the government-appointed dealers." Although dealer Khandaker Faruk was instructed to sell fertilizer to farmers in Daulatdia Union, he was violating the rules and smuggling fertilizer to other areas. In this situation, the 40 bags of fertilizer were seized. Later, irregularities were found in his fertilizer warehouse during an investigation. Such operations against fertilizer smugglers will continue.
Goalanda Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Muntasir Hasan Khan said, "According to the fertilizer policy, the dealer was supposed to distribute and sell fertilizer to farmers in Daulatdia area. But he went outside the designated area and sold fertilizer, which is illegal. For this reason, he has been fined Tk 40,000 through a mobile court."
