Dhaka: Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid today assured the nation that there is no fertilizer shortage in the country, attributing recent concerns to an organized "vicious circle" attempting to manufacture an artificial crisis. He emphasized that the government has enhanced its monitoring of the supply and distribution networks to thwart such efforts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Minister Rashid addressed these issues in response to an emergency notice raised by opposition lawmaker Akhter Hossen of Rangpur-4 during a session at the Jatiya Sangsad, presided over by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal. Rashid highlighted that the current fertilizer stock stands at 1.3 million tonnes, up from 1.2 million tonnes at the same time last year, underscoring the absence of a genuine shortage.
The minister detailed that the government has bolstered surveillance over the distribution system, maintaining control over the situation in recent days, with an optimistic outlook for complete stabilization soon. He noted a significant drop in fertilizer allocation for Rangpur district this year compared to the previous year, indicating a need for investigation into the factors contributing to the perceived crisis.
On the topic of fertilizer distribution and dealer appointments, Rashid revealed the establishment of the "Comprehensive Policy on Fertilizer Dealer Appointment and Distribution 2026," which includes appointing an additional dealer in every union while retaining the current two. He warned of punitive measures against dealers involved in illegal activities, stating that a list of such dealers is being compiled.
Minister Rashid also mentioned the unusual discovery of fertilizer stocks in rice godowns and mills, with punitive actions being taken against those responsible for such irregularities. The nation's annual fertilizer demand is approximately 4.039 million tonnes, with local production contributing 1.1 to 1.25 million tonnes; the remainder is imported.
Regarding urea imports, the minister noted that while Bangladesh typically sources urea from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted imports from Qatar. To compensate, the government is now importing urea from Canada and Morocco to fulfill the country's requirements.