The Agriculture Ministry directed fertiliser retailers to continue operating and selling to farmers at government-set prices amid distribution concerns.
The government has decided to allow retail sellers involved in chemical fertiliser distribution to continue operating until further notice, the Agriculture Ministry announced yesterday (25 August).
Retailers will be permitted to purchase fertiliser from authorised main dealers and sell it to farmers at government-set prices, according to a directive issued by the ministry's Fertiliser Management and Monitoring Wing. The circular, signed by Dr Muhammad Jahangir Alam, joint secretary at the ministry, stated that retail sellers will continue to buy fertiliser from approved main dealers and sell it to farmers at government-fixed prices until further instructions are given.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about fertiliser availability during the critical Aman rice cultivation season. Earlier this month, reserves of key fertilisers including Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), and Muriate of Potash (MOP) were reported to have fallen below safe levels, with farmers in some areas facing shortages and higher prices.
On 22 August, the Bangladesh Fertiliser Association (BFA) directed dealers nationwide to ensure farmers receive fertiliser at government-fixed prices and warned that violations could lead to cancellation of dealerships and legal action. The government has also recently approved the import of 365,000 tonnes of fertiliser to maintain adequate stocks for the upcoming cropping seasons.