Rajshahi farmers struggle with fertilizer shortage amid administrative reshuffle and probe into illegal stockpiling

RAJSHAHI — Farmers in Rajshahi are facing severe fertilizer shortages during the peak Aman paddy season, forcing them to shuttle between dealerships as retail centers remain frequently shuttered or unresponsive.

The situation has triggered administrative fallout within the Department of Agricultural Extension. Following media reports detailing irregularities in the fertilizer supply chain, Deputy Director Mohammad Nasir Uddin was transferred to the Plant Quarantine Station at Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira on Saturday. Mostafa Kamal Hossain, formerly the deputy director for Shariatpur, has been appointed as his successor.

On Sunday morning, farmers arriving at “Messers Moonlight Krishi Bitan,” a BCI-affiliated dealership in the Alimganj area of Paba Upazila, found the outlet closed. Dealer Abdul Gaffar, when contacted by phone, claimed he was out of the district and directed callers to his manager, who subsequently stated he was busy shopping.

Golam Panjatan, a farmer from Nutun Kasba village, reported that he has been unable to secure fertilizer for his 11 bighas of Aman crops despite visiting the dealership for three consecutive days. Similarly, Ataul Hossain, a farmer from Chapal village in Godagari, said he failed to source supplies from his local dealer in Rajabari and was forced to seek alternatives elsewhere. Many farmers eventually managed to obtain urea from another dealer, Nazrul Islam, only after hours of searching.

The supply crisis prompted a series of official investigations and raids following reports of price gouging and artificial shortages. Authorities recently conducted operations across four establishments, seizing approximately 1 million taka worth of fertilizer from a single trader.

Authorities Recover Fertilizer Following Mob Raid on Kurigram Dealer Warehouse

Read Article

A three-member probe committee, led by Deputy Director of the Chapainawabganj Horticulture Center Md. Khaledur Rahman, was formed last Friday to investigate the irregularities. The committee submitted its findings to the authorities on Saturday.

However, transparency concerns remain. Additional Director Md. Azizur Rahman could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts to contact him at his office and by telephone.

Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, who serves as the chairman of the district fertilizer and seed monitoring committee, stated that he has not yet received the official investigation report. He noted that the seized fertilizer originated from a collection of various dealers and retailers, many of whom have already been fined.

“We are requesting additional fertilizer allocations for Rajshahi to ensure that such crises do not recur in the future,” Islam said, adding that legal action will be taken against those found responsible once the investigation report is formally reviewed.