A mobile court seized around 1,800 sacks of TSP, MOP and DAP fertilisers from eight warehouses in Chattogram’s Bheda Market and Notun Chaktai areas on Monday over alleged stockpiling without the required licences.
The operation was conducted between 3:30pm and 7:00pm in areas under Bakalia Police Station following a tip-off about illegal fertiliser storage. It was carried out under the overall direction of Chattogram Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian.
The seized fertilisers were placed in the joint custody of the Metropolitan Agriculture Officer, Panchlaish, and Bakalia Police Station officer-in-charge for further legal action, authorities said.
The mobile court also penalised two traders for violating relevant laws. One was fined Tk3 lakh, while another was fined Tk3 lakh and sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment. Both fines were realised immediately.
Assistant Commissioner (Land), Sadar Circle, Chattogram, Md Sakib Ul Alam, who led the operation, said the district administration would continue monitoring the market and take strict action against artificial shortages, illegal stockpiling and other irregularities involving fertilisers and agricultural inputs.
He said Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian had directed that “no leniency be shown” to anyone attempting to cause hardship to farmers through artificial shortages or illegal hoarding.
