Dhaka:Jamuna Fertiliser Factory has managed to produce fertiliser for only three days over the past two years due to persistent gas shortages. Meanwhile, production at Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory has been suspended for 19 months.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the situation was addressed during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The meeting, chaired by Chief Whip and committee chairman Nurul Islam Moni, focused on ways to tackle the ongoing fertiliser production issues.
The committee put forth several recommendations, including measures to boost domestic fertiliser production and decrease reliance on imports. They aimed to alleviate fertiliser shortages and reduce costs. A review of the activities of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and its affiliated companies, along with those of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), was conducted to assess current challenges.
Discussions also covered the production, storage, and distribution of chemical fertilisers by BCIC and BADC. The committee sought information on future plans for paid-off fertiliser factories and the reopening of closed plants. They emphasized the need to increase the production capacity of older fertiliser factories through modernisation efforts.
In line with the Prime Minister's directives, the committee recommended measures to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in seed production. It also suggested a review of practices to cancel the licences of dealers involved in creating artificial shortages of fertiliser.
The committee further advocated for the introduction of a digital real-time monitoring system to ensure efficient fertiliser supply-chain management. Additionally, they requested BADC to provide detailed information at the next meeting regarding future plans to boost food production in response to population growth.