Allegations of partisanship and corruption; MPs seek an impartial inquiry
Opposition members of parliament from five of Jashore’s constituencies have alleged partisanship, irregularities and corruption in the appointment of fertiliser dealers across the district’s 93 unions and eight municipalities. They say dealerships went to unqualified and controversial people on the strength of political identity and illicit payments, and they are demanding that the disputed appointments be cancelled, that the allegations be investigated impartially, and that qualified traders be appointed under government policy.
The allegations were set out at a press conference at the Jashore Press Club at 11:30 am on Thursday, 22 October. Professor Golam Rasul, the Jamaat-e-Islami district chief in Jashore and MP for Jashore-4 (Bagharpara-Abhaynagar), read a written statement on behalf of the five MPs.
In the statement he said that although opposition MPs hold five of Jashore’s six parliamentary seats, their advice and recommendations on the dealer appointments were not properly considered. According to the allegations, the deputy commissioner finalised a list supplied by people from the ruling party and sent it to the agriculture ministry, giving priority to political identity over the candidates’ honesty, competence, professionalism and connection to farming.
The MPs allege that genuine traders who have long dealt in farm inputs were passed over, while many others were given dealerships through political influence and money. They claim that those appointed include a defendant in several criminal cases, the wife of a man accused in a drug arrest, and several leaders and activists of the banned Awami League.
Answering reporters’ questions after the press conference, Golam Rasul named several dealers and questioned their appointments. He alleged that Habibur Rahman, owner of Habibur Traders in Basuari union of Bagharpara upazila, faces cases involving arms, drugs, bank robbery and fraud, and said the appointment of such a person should be investigated.
He also questioned the appointment of Masud Parvez Rubel, owner of Nafiz Enterprise in Manirampur municipality, who he said is the son of the acting president of the upazila BNP. He also raised the dealership given to Salauddin, whom he described as linked to the Awami League, in Shyamkur union of the same upazila.
This report does not include any response from the dealers concerned, the district administration or the agriculture department to these allegations.
Monitoring committees also accused of partisanship
Besides the dealer appointments, the MPs objected to how the district and upazila fertiliser and seed monitoring committees were formed. They allege the committees were set up without regard to the advice and recommendations of the MPs concerned, and that instead of properly including farmers, traders and community representatives, they were filled with district and upazila BNP leaders and activists.
The MPs said these committees play an important role in overseeing the supply and distribution of fertiliser and seed, watching the market and protecting farmers’ interests, so their membership should be decided by involvement in agriculture, experience and competence rather than political identity.
In their view, unless transparency is ensured in appointing dealers and forming the monitoring committees, the distribution of farm inputs could be open to irregularities, and genuine farmers and traders stand to lose.
Speakers at the press conference said fertiliser is one of the most important inputs in farming, and that honesty, experience and professionalism in appointing dealers are essential if farmers are to get fertiliser on time and at a fair price. They called for an impartial investigation into the alleged partisanship and corruption and for action as needed.
Also present were Azizur Rahman, MP for Jashore-1 (Sharsha); Moslem Uddin Farid, MP for Jashore-2 (Jhikargachha-Chaugachha); Moktar Ali, MP for Jashore-6 (Keshabpur); district Jamaat secretary Abu Zafar, assistant secretary Golam Quddus, district publicity secretary Professor Shahabuddin Biswas and other party leaders.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report