Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Monday warned that licences of newly appointed fertiliser dealers would be cancelled if irregularities were found in fertiliser distribution, while officials involved in such practices would face departmental action.

He issued the warning at a meeting on fertiliser supply for the upcoming Rabi season at the conference room of his ministry, according to a PID handout.

Emphasising transparency and accountability, the minister said dealership areas must be determined when licences were issued, based on the amount of cultivable land, the number of farmers and cropping intensity.

He also directed officials to take legal action against dealers violating the rules and ensure that fertiliser was sold at government-fixed prices. “Every dealer's shop must display price lists and stock information,” he said.

Aminur instructed the authorities to conduct mobile court drives and regular operations against artificial shortages, overpricing, hoarding and illegal fertiliser smuggling across the border.

He also directed officials to use farmer cards and farmers' lists to ensure that fertiliser reached genuine farmers fairly.

The minister said fertiliser allocations and supplies were being increased ahead of the Rabi season and the government was prepared to meet any rise in demand.

He called for strict surveillance, particularly in border districts, to prevent fertiliser smuggling.

Stressing that the government provided substantial subsidies on fertiliser, Aminur said genuine farmers must receive the benefits.

He also asked officials to monitor the use of urea as an industrial raw material and take swift action against textile and dyeing factories if evidence emerged that they were using it.

Deputy commissioners of all districts and deputy directors of the Department of Agricultural Extension attended the meeting virtually, which was chaired by Agriculture Secretary Md Selim Khan.