The Appellate Division’s Chamber Court on Wednesday stayed a High Court status quo order on a government policy that bars multiple members of the same family from obtaining fertiliser dealerships.
As a result, the restriction preventing more than one member of the same family from holding fertiliser dealerships remains in effect, Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal said.
Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the Appellate Division’s Chamber Court passed the order after hearing both sides.
Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Deputy Attorney General Mahbuba Jui represented the state, while lawyer Ikramul Haque Tutul appeared for the writ petitioners.
The matter concerns the government’s policy on fertiliser dealerships and distribution.
Five individuals challenged a provision of the policy through two writ petitions filed with the High Court on 6 October.
Following the petitions, the High Court issued a status quo order on the implementation of the provision. The petitioners had also sought protection against the cancellation of their existing dealerships.
The state later moved the Appellate Division, seeking suspension of the High Court order.
Explaining the government’s position, the attorney general said the 2009 policy on fertiliser dealerships and distribution did not restrict multiple members of the same family from holding dealerships. As a result, husband, wife, sons, daughters and daughters-in-law could obtain separate dealerships, allowing families to control the business, he said.
He said the policy formulated in 2025 was later amended to prevent multiple members of the same family from obtaining fertiliser dealerships.
The government made the amendment in August this year to prevent family-based control of dealerships and ensure greater transparency and accountability in the fertiliser distribution system, he said.
On 6 October, the five petitioners filed two writ petitions with the High Court challenging the provision. They sought an interim order preventing the cancellation of their existing dealerships, and the High Court issued a status quo order.
The process of appointing new fertiliser dealers is currently underway. However, the newly appointed dealers have not yet started distributing fertiliser, according to the state.
Despite this, the High Court issued the status quo order, prompting the state to move the Appellate Division.
After hearing both sides, the Chamber Court stayed the High Court’s status quo order.
As a result, the restriction under the government’s amended policy preventing multiple members of the same family from obtaining fertiliser dealerships remains in effect.
