In Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur, six of the 13 newly appointed fertiliser distributors are wives of BNP leaders. None had any previous business experience, and all were known as homemakers.
After the BNP came to power, the long-established fertiliser distribution system was dismantled, and new distributors were appointed nationwide. BNP leaders and their relatives secured appointments, triggering resentment within the party.
Many people applied for distributorships in the same areas, but those with influence or lobbying connections succeeded. Some newly appointed distributors have also referred to financial transactions.
The six women appointed in Melandaha are Khadija Parveen, wife of Monowar Haldar, president of the municipal BNP; Mousumi Akter, wife of Zaker Hossain, general secretary of Nangla Union BNP; Farida Parveen, wife of Belayet Hossain Belal, president of Nayanagar Union BNP; Roksana Kabir, wife of Monzurul Kabir Monzur, general secretary of the upazila BNP; Mosammat Shefali Begum, wife of Harez Sarker, general secretary of Jhaogara Union BNP; and Bulbuli, wife of Saiful Islam, general secretary of Shyampur Union BNP.
None responded to questions about their entry into the business. TIMES and other media outlets made repeated attempts to contact them, but they declined to comment. Some had switched off their phones.
Azam Khan, former joint convener of Melandaha upazila BNP, said, “Applicants have been deceived. The scrutiny committee has demonstrated complete incompetence. Most distributors were appointed without following any rules or procedures.”
Melandaha Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Abdur Rouf said, “The ministry has made the decision. There is nothing for us to do here.”
Under the appointment process, one distributor was selected for each union, while one was appointed for multiple municipalities combined. The Department of Agricultural Extension in each district sent three names for each distribution point to the ministry, which finalised the appointments.
Limited margins, yet intense interest
The appointments have drawn attention amid recent fertiliser shortages and complaints that supplies are not available at government-fixed prices. Distributors receive a margin of Tk3 per kg but must cover warehouse rent, transport, labour, security, and other operating costs.
Birendranath Das, a distributor in Ahsanganj, Atrai upazila, said the margin was insufficient to cover these expenses.
A newly appointed distributor in Badalgachhi, Naogaon, told TIMES that operating under the fixed margin was difficult, adding, “But how many people actually follow the government-set prices?”
Asked how he had secured the distributorship, he said, “Getting a dealership is not easy at all. I had to make contacts and lobby at various levels. Transactions were also necessary to satisfy many people.”
A former distributor in Raninagar, Naogaon, said each union receives 5,000–10,000 sacks (250–500 tonnes) a month during the Boro and Aman seasons and 1,000–2,000 sacks (50–100 tonnes) in other seasons.
His union received 10,000 sacks in the previous season. Selling each for an additional Tk200 would have generated Tk20 lakh in extra revenue, he said.
Businesspeople said distributors can secure bank loans by presenting themselves as large business establishments. They also alleged that some make extra profits by charging above the official price and moving fertiliser between upazilas and districts.
79% of Lakshmipur appointees linked to BNP
Of the 57 people appointed in Lakshmipur, 45 are leaders or activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations, accounting for 79 per cent. Others include party workers and relatives of leaders.
Mohammad Hasibur Rahman, joint convener of the district BNP, said, “For the past 17 years, our party leaders and activists were deprived of various opportunities, including fertiliser dealerships. After the party came to power, many are now focusing on business and trade. That is why they applied for fertiliser dealerships.”
Government policy prioritises applicants already involved in the fertiliser business, but many new appointees in Lakshmipur have no previous experience in the trade.
In Dalal Bazar Union of Sadar upazila, the distributorship went to an establishment owned by Jaker Hossain, president of the Jubo Dal, which deals in rods, cement and coconuts.
Tarik Rahman, a Jubo Dal leader in Char Martin Union of Kamalnagar upazila, said, “Those who have been nominated have no warehouses and no experience in selling fertiliser. As a result, genuine businesspeople have been deprived.”
Mohammad Gias Uddin, member secretary of Kamalnagar upazila Swechchhasebak Dal, said, “I have never been involved in the fertiliser business before. What is wrong with starting a new business?”
Gias Uddin Palash, general secretary of Ramganj municipal BNP, was appointed distributor for the municipal area. Mohammad Billal Patwary, general secretary of the local BNP, was appointed in Noagaon Union. Ahsan Habib, president of Korpora Union BNP, and Hafez Ahmed, former organising secretary of Bholakot Union Jubo Dal, also secured appointments.
Mohammad Shovon, a long-time fertiliser seller at Chandraganj Bazar who was left off the list, told TIMES, “I do not know why I was dropped from the list. Perhaps I could have become a dealer if I had been in the BNP.”
Jasim Uddin, former general secretary of Char Lawrence Union BNP and a long-time dealer, said, “I do not know why I was not appointed.”
Political names abound in Naogaon too
One distributor was appointed in each of Naogaon’s 99 unions and three municipalities. The political affiliations of many appointees have come under scrutiny.
In Badalgachhi upazila, Md Moazzem Hossain of Badalgachhi Union is the Jubo Dal president, while Md Babul Hossain of Paharpur Union is a former local BNP vice-president. MM Hasan Mondal of Mathurapur is the union Jubo Dal president, Md Mehedi Hasan of Mithapur is the upazila Krishak Dal vice-president, and Md Jamil Hossain of Kola is the union Jubo Dal organising secretary. Jamil Hossain is locally known as a fish wholesaler and dental practitioner.
Md Robiul Islam of Adhaipur and Md Salam Hossain of Balubhara are union Jubo Dal general secretaries. Robiul claimed he had secured his appointment by following the rules and without using influence.
Md Mehedi Hasan, Badalgachhi upazila agriculture officer and a member of the scrutiny committee, said its members had been unaware of the applicants’ political affiliations during verification.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Israt Jahan Chhanni said, “After scrutiny, the names of three applicants from each union were sent to the ministry through a lottery.”
In Patnitala upazila, Md Emran Hossain of Patnitala Union is the local Krishak Dal president. Nadira Member, mother of Md Tarek Aziz of Madhail, is the union BNP convener, while Md Mizanur Rahman of Dibar is the union BNP joint general secretary.
Harun-or-Rashid Mondal of Akbarpur is the union BNP president. Nazrul Islam, elder brother of Fazlur Rahman of Krishnapur, is a member of the union BNP committee, while Md Motibul Islam of Patichara is the union BNP vice-president.
In Niamatpur upazila, the list includes establishments linked to the brother, nephew and sister’s son of Mostafizur Rahman, MP for Naogaon-1.
Other appointees include Saikat Raihan, son of Zaker Hossain, president of Bahadurpur Union BNP; Masud Rana, vice-president of Paroil Union BNP; and Ahsanul Haque, a member of Rasulpur Union Jubo Dal.
Istekiar Shuvo, son of Mamunur Rashid, president of Bhavicha Union BNP, and Nazmun Nahar Begum, wife of Shahidul Islam, president of Chandanagar Union BNP, were also appointed.
Abul Hossain Sonar, father of Anjuman Pavel, the MP’s cousin and member secretary of the upazila Chhatra Dal, was appointed in Sadar Union. The establishment of Al Mamun, former general secretary of Hajinagar Union BNP, is also on the list.
Jannatun Hawa, an Awami League leader in Srimantapur Union, is also among the appointees.
Resentment within Jhenaidah BNP
Government policy bars teachers and employees of MPO-listed institutions, as well as close relatives of government officials, from distributor appointments. However, Anwara Nasrin, wife of Anichur, an MPO-listed teacher at Saleha Begum Women’s College in Daulatpur Union of Harinakundu upazila, was appointed. Her daughter is a government employee and an executive magistrate.
In Chandpur Union, Abdul Latif, a Ward 8 resident and elder brother of district BNP president MA Majid, was appointed to positions 1, 2 and 3 on the list, allegedly in violation of the policy.
Ehsan Reza, brother of the former Maheshpur upazila Jubo League president and brother-in-law of district BNP general secretary Zahiduzzaman Mona, was also appointed.
Surma Hasan, wife of the district BNP president’s brother-in-law, became a distributor in Trilochanpur Union of Kaliganj upazila. In Shimla-Rokonpur Union, Nazmul Haque Mishu, the district BNP president’s cousin’s brother-in-law, was also appointed.
Dabir Hossain Uddin Biswas, general secretary of Maheshpur upazila BNP, alleged irregularities, saying, “The upazila BNP president had asked me about the political identities of five candidates. I provided specific information. But because everything was controlled at the district level, dedicated businesspeople from the party were deprived.”
Saimum Sabbir Shovon from Jamalpur, Rifat Hossain Shobuj from Naogaon, Abbas Hossain from Lakshmipur, Shahzahan Nobin from Jhenaidah also contributed to this report.
