A mobile court has fined a trader one lakh taka for the offence of selling adulterated DAP fertiliser at Trimohoni bazar on the outskirts of Kushtia. Twenty-five sacks of adulterated fertiliser found at the shop were seized and destroyed.
The fine was imposed during a joint operation by the upazila administration and the agriculture department at midday on Tuesday (September 22).
Agriculture department sources said the operation was carried out at Rohan Traders in Trimohoni bazar over allegations of selling adulterated DAP fertiliser. Officials concerned tested the fertiliser at the shop and confirmed that it was substandard and fraudulent. A mobile court was then convened at the scene and the shop owner fined one lakh taka. The 25 seized sacks of adulterated fertiliser were destroyed at the same time.
The operation was led by Nusrat Yasmin, assistant commissioner (land) and executive magistrate for Kushtia Sadar. She said: “I learned through the upazila agriculture officer that a dealer at Trimohoni was selling adulterated fertiliser. That dealer was bringing fertiliser from another place and selling it. In the operation, 25 sacks containing adulterated fertiliser mixture were found there. As the allegation was proved, he has been fined one lakh taka.”
Local farmers allege that some dishonest traders are selling adulterated and counterfeit fertiliser, taking advantage of the fertiliser shortage. Using such fertiliser risks damaging crops and destroying the fertility of the land.
Agriculture officials said operations and legal action against sellers of counterfeit and adulterated fertiliser would continue.