Farmers in Ramchandrapur Union under Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur have alleged widespread irregularities by dealers of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) fertiliser, accusing them of lacking transparency in the distribution of TSP (both locally produced and imported) and MOP fertilisers, and selling them on the black market at inflated prices.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Dinajpur, a fact-finding team visited the area about 10 days ago following farmers’ complaints. However, the farmers claim that no action has been taken against Ishanpur block’s Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Md Tofayel Ahmed, which has intensified their frustration.
Following the death of Sohrab Ali, proprietor of MS Traders and dealer at Mutuni Bazar, his widowed sister-in-law’s husband, Md Shamim, was given the responsibility. At the same time, he was also assigned half of the dealership’s fertiliser distribution for Tohid Enterprise at Kaharol Bazar.
Since Md Shamim lives in Dashmail, he is rarely present at the Mutuni Bazar outlet. Farmers allege that the July allotment of 366 sacks of locally produced TSP and 280 sacks of imported TSP was stored in his private warehouse in Dashmail instead of at the Mutuni Bazar outlet. Only small quantities—80 sacks on July 13 and about 60–70 sacks on July 16—were later brought to Mutuni Bazar.
Farmers further allege that Shamim regularly sells fertiliser to outside traders at inflated prices. While the government-set price for a sack of TSP fertiliser is Tk 1,350, farmers say they are forced to buy it for Tk 2,100–2,200. As a result, many farmers leave empty-handed despite waiting in queues.
They also accuse Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Md Tofayel Ahmed of being involved in these irregularities and falsely reporting that all fertiliser was stored at Mutuni Bazar. Complaints against him include negligence in providing agricultural advice since joining the area in 2016, favouritism in the distribution of demonstration and incentive materials, and ignoring coordination with the Ramchandrapur block officer.
One farmer recalled that on July 17, 2017, when he went to Mutuni Bazar for fertiliser, Tofayel Ahmed told him, “Am I a shopkeeper that I will give you fertiliser whenever you ask?” Several farmers also claim that landless people have received fertiliser, while those owning large plots—such as Shahidul Islam, who owns seven bighas—have been denied non-urea fertilisers.
Farmers are demanding that Tofayel Ahmed be transferred from Ishanpur block. While he admitted to being involved in the investigation, Kaharol Upazila Agriculture Officer Mallika Rani Sehanbesh said she was not aware of the matter.