Puthia: A mobile court today fined a fertilizer trader Tk 30,000 for illegally hoarding fertilizer at Dhopapara Bazar in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi. The mobile court, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shibu Das, also seized 34 sacks of TSP and eight sacks of DAP fertilizer that had been illegally stockpiled.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shibu Das stated that the seized fertilizer was later sold to local farmers at government-fixed prices. Farmers and traders present during the drive expressed concerns that illegal hoarding creates artificial shortages and forces farmers to buy fertilizer at higher prices. They urged for regular drives to curb such practices and ensure fair pricing.
Local farmer Rafiqul Islam highlighted the need for regular monitoring to prevent hoarding and artificial crises in the fertilizer market. Another trader mentioned that such drives help maintain market transparency, protect legitimate businesses, and ensure that farmers can purchase fertilizer at fair prices.
Shibu Das emphasized that drives against illegal hoarding and other irregularities would continue in order to protect farmers' interests and maintain discipline in the fertilizer market.