CHUADANGA, Sept. 26 — The upazila administration and police seized 723 sacks of illegally stored chemical fertilizer in separate raids in Jibannagar, Chuadanga.
The fertilizer was seized in separate raids in the upazila on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday.
According to sources, Abul Kalam Azad, owner of Shantana Enterprise on Dattanagar Road in Jibannagar town, stored government chemical fertilizer in his shop without a license to sell at higher prices. After receiving information, a raid was conducted there Friday afternoon under the leadership of Jibannagar UNO Sumaiya Sultana Annie. Jibannagar Police Station OC Solaiman Sheikh, Upazila Agriculture Officer Alamgir Hossain and a police team took part in the raid. Shop owner Azad fled after sensing the administration’s presence. Later, 403 sacks of DAP fertilizer were seized from the shop.
On Saturday morning, acting on secret information, a police team led by Jibannagar Police Station OC Solaiman Sheikh raided Tawfiq Enterprise at Hasadah Bazar. In the presence of shop owner Abdul Khaleq, 320 sacks of DAP, TSP and MOP fertilizer were seized. His three shops were later sealed.
The Jibannagar police OC said two separate regular cases were filed at Jibannagar Police Station under the Special Powers Act against fertilizer traders Abul Kalam Azad and Abdul Khaleq.
UNO Sumaiya Sultana said the administration is active to keep fertilizer supply normal for farmers and prevent artificial shortages. She said strict legal action will be taken against anyone who tries to create artificial shortages or stockpile illegally through dishonest means. The operation will continue, she said.
Nurul Islam, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension, said some dishonest traders were illegally bringing and storing chemical fertilizer from areas including Nawapara in Jashore so they could create artificial shortages during the maize season and sell at high prices. Demand for fertilizer is now very high because the farming season is under way. Illegal stockpiling disrupts fertilizer supply, causing real farmers to suffer, he said. Stricter measures will be taken in the future to prevent such activities.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report