The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Agriculture has recommended impartial investigations and strict punitive action against those responsible for irregularities in fertilizer dealer appointments and illegal fertilizer stockpiling and distribution across various parts of the country.
Detailed discussions regarding fertilizer stockpiling, supply, and distribution systems took place on Monday (October 26) during the second meeting of the standing committee held at the National Parliament Building. Committee members expressed deep frustration over irregularities in dealer appointments and discrepancies in fertilizer distribution at the field level.
The meeting was chaired by Md. Shahadat Hossain, MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Agriculture. Following a proposal by BNP Member of Parliament Md. Mostafizur Rahman to conduct on-site inspections into illegal fertilizer hoarding, forgery, and field-level distribution anomalies, a special 3-member inspection and investigation committee was formed to identify these problems and take necessary action. Member of Parliament Md. Mostafizur Rahman was appointed as the convener of the committee, with the other two members being Md. Rokon Uddin Babul, MP, and Mosammat Sabira Sultana, MP.
According to meeting sources, the standing committee recommended taking strict action in districts and areas where irregularities in fertilizer dealer appointments have been reported. It recommended suspending the execution of contracts in areas where final dealer agreements have not yet been finalized, pending the resolution of complaints.
Conversely, in areas where contracts have already been executed, instructions were issued to prioritize investigations into the allegations and take necessary measures accordingly.
Particularly, the parliamentary standing committee recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture thoroughly investigate fertilizer dealership appointment complaints concerning six specific districts: Lalmonirhat, Barguna, Satkhira, Faridpur, Naogaon, and Jeshore.
The meeting was attended by State Minister for Agriculture Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, MP; standing committee members Md. Shahidul Islam, MP; Md. Mostafizur Rahman, MP; Md. Rokon Uddin Babul, MP; Md. Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, MP; Mosammat Sabira Sultana, MP; and Md. Golam Rasul, MP.
Additionally, the Agriculture Secretary, Director Generals of various departments under the ministry, and senior officials of the National Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Md. Golap Mia, Lalmonirhat Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
