Dhaka:The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Agriculture has established a three-member committee to investigate allegations of irregularities in fertilizer dealer appointments and to ensure transparency in fertilizer distribution, storage, and management.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the decision was made during the committee's second meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, chaired by Md Shahadat Hossain MP. The probe committee will be led by Md Mostafizur Rahman, MP, with Md Rokon Uddin Babul, MP, and Mst Sabira Sultana, MP, serving as its members.
The committee plans to conduct on-site inspections of fertilizer distribution, storage, and management activities, aiming to identify irregularities and formulate specific recommendations to address them. The chairman noted that previous issues causing an artificial shortage in fertilizer distribution had been resolved, and the country currently has adequate stocks to meet demand. He expressed optimism that if production continues at full capacity, Bangladesh could meet domestic demand and potentially export surplus fertilizer in the future.
During the meeting, the committee discussed the allegations of irregularities in fertilizer dealer appointments and recommended suspending the signing of new dealership agreements until the allegations are resolved. For agreements already in place, the committee suggested proper investigations and actions based on their findings. The focus was particularly placed on dealer appointments in the districts of Lalmonirhat, Barguna, Satkhira, Faridpur, Naogaon, and Jashore.
The meeting also included the confirmation of the minutes from its first meeting and a presentation from the Ministry of Agriculture on the implementation of previous decisions. Attendees included Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid, committee members, and various officials from relevant departments and the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat.