A special mobile court has seized around 1,800 sacks of TSP, MOP and DAP fertilisers from eight warehouses in Chattogram’s Bheda Market and Notun Chaktai areas for allegedly stockpiling the agricultural inputs without the required licences.
The operation was conducted on Monday, between 3.30pm and 7pm in the areas under Bakalia Police Station, following a tip-off about illegal fertiliser storage.
The drive was carried out under the overall direction of Chattogram Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate
Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah.
The seized fertilisers were handed over to the joint custody of the Metropolitan Agriculture Officer (Panchlaish) and the Officer-in-Charge of Bakalia Police Station for further legal action, authorities said.
During the operation, the mobile court also took action against two traders for violating the relevant laws.
One trader was fined Tk3 lakh, which was collected in cash on the spot. Another trader was fined Tk3 lakh and sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment. The fine imposed on him was also realised immediately.
Md Sakib Ul Alam, Assistant Commissioner (Land), Sadar Circle, Chattogram, who led the operation, said the district administration would take strict action against attempts to create artificial shortages of fertilisers or illegally stockpile the products.
“Zahidul Islam has directed that no leniency be shown to anyone attempting to cause hardship to farmers by creating artificial shortages or illegally hoarding fertiliser,” he said.
He said the operation was conducted based on confidential information and that monitoring of the market would continue to prevent illegal practices involving agricultural inputs.
“The district administration will continue strict monitoring and public-interest operations to maintain discipline in the market for agricultural inputs and fertilisers,” Sakib Ul Alam added.
