Widespread nepotism alleged in fertiliser dealer appointments: parliamentary committee forms three-member probe, minister says dealerships will change if irregularities are proven
Although the BNP government appointed new fertiliser dealers to deliver fertiliser at fair prices to farmers' doorsteps, the process has drawn widespread allegations of irregularities, nepotism and corruption; on Monday, the parliamentary standing committee on the agriculture ministry formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations.
According to agriculture ministry sources, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has 5,200 fertiliser dealers across the country and the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) has 5,600. The government has recently appointed more than 4,500 additional fertiliser dealers.
It is alleged that a large share of the newly appointed dealers have no past experience of selling fertiliser and no warehouse of their own, and that inexperienced people were made dealers in exchange for money. Agricultural experts say dealers who obtained dealerships through irregularities may create a crisis in the fertiliser supply system in future to serve their financial interests. Affected farmers and various quarters allege that the dealership list was finalised in disregard of the policy, to secure political and financial advantage.
In Jashore, at least 65 of the 98 people nominated as fertiliser dealers are BNP leaders, activists or their close relatives. At the top of the approval list in Chaugacha upazila is 'Messrs Chaugacha Traders' of municipal BNP president Selim Reza Aulia; many allege he received the dealership through party influence.
In Chaugacha, upazila BNP general secretary Masudul Hasan and former president Johurul Islam are alleged to have taken dealerships through family members rather than applying themselves. In Patibila union, Johurul's wife Rahima Akter Lipi was given a dealership even though four applicants with prior fertiliser-selling experience had applied in that union. In Hakimipur union, the owner of Messrs Nishan Traders, which received a dealership, is Amena Begum, the over-60 mother of Masudul Hasan; neither the BNP leader nor his mother was ever involved in the fertiliser business.
In Gafargaon, Mymensingh, family members and relatives of MP Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman are alleged to have received dealer appointments. In Longair union, the MP's own younger brother Md Moniruzzaman — convenor of the South Gafargaon upazila Swechchhasebak Dal — received a dealership in the name of Messrs SM Enterprise. In Usthi union, the dealership went to the MP's uncle Md Moniruzzaman Jasim, whose firm is named Zahidul Sanitary and Hardware. Responding to the allegations, MP Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu said the appointments were made after verifying political sacrifice, business competence, necessary documents and warehouse-building capacity.
In Rajshahi, 85 people received new dealer appointments; one of them is a Jamaat-e-Islami worker, while most of the rest are BNP and affiliate office-bearers at various levels or their family members. In Charghat upazila's Sadar union, Alif Traders' Zinia Parvin, who received a dealership, is the wife of upazila Jubo Dal convenor Bulbul Hossain; in Sardah union, the dealer is Israt Jahan, wife of former upazila Chhatra Dal president Alamgir Hossain, through Othoi and Aria Traders; in Yusufpur union, the dealer is Survi Akter Shikha, wife of BNP general secretary and former chairman Rabiul Islam Robin. In Bagha upazila's Bausa union, Atik Traders owner Zobaida Khatun is the wife of former union BNP president Anwar Hossain Palash.
In Tanore upazila's Saranjai union, Messrs Shahnewaz Traders owner Shahnewaz is the son of union BNP president Mostafizur Rahman; in Badhair union, Messrs Morjina Enterprise owner Siddika Tamanna is the wife of former upazila Jubo Dal vice-president Mamunur Rashid; in Taland union, Messrs Bismillah Enterprise owner Omar Faruk is the son of upazila BNP convenor Abdul Hannan. In Puthia municipality, Messrs Farish Traders owner Shahed Hasan, who became a dealer, is the grandson-in-law of Rajshahi-5 MP Nazrul Islam Mondal. In Mohanpur upazila's Ghasigram union, Shapla Traders owner Omar Faruk is the son of union BNP president Abdul Malek; in Paba upazila's Parila union, Messrs Ipti Enterprise owner Naim Wasif is the son of upazila BNP member secretary Abdur Razzak, and in Horian union, Messrs Taif Traders owner Atikur Rahman is the son of upazila BNP convenor Ali Hossain.
In Banaripara upazila of Barisal, dealer appointments went to Arif Mridha and Sohel Mridha, two brothers of upazila BNP general secretary Riaz Uddin Ahmed Mridha; many locals allege they received the dealerships only because of their brother's identity, despite having no prior fertiliser business experience. In Hatia upazila of Noakhali, sub-assistant agriculture officer Mohammad Daud is alleged to have used his influence to secure a dealership for his father Abdul Baten, owner of Messrs Aiman Enterprise in Tamruddi union; Mohammad Daud has denied the allegation of using influence.
In Kurigram's nine upazilas, 60 of the 75 new dealers are BNP leaders, activists or their family members; all nine dealers in Kurigram Sadar are BNP-linked. In Satkhira, a large share of the 80 dealers appointed across the district are linked to the ruling BNP's politics, drawing allegations of irregularities and partisan appointments. In Moulvibazar, an investigation found that at least 45 of the 58 approved dealers are leaders or activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations.
On October 12, at a press conference at Gouripur Press Club in Mymensingh, Md Golam Kajiel Hajat Shah-e Munshi, owner of Messrs Munshi Enterprise and president of the municipal Krishak Dal, alleged money transactions in the awarding of dealerships. He alleged that an informal trade of Tk 15 to 20 lakh took place for each dealer appointment, involving top upazila BNP leaders, and claimed that he did not receive a dealership despite placing first in the lottery. Mymensingh-8 (Ishwarganj) MP Lutfullahil Majed alleged in a Facebook post that a section of the administration took money, writing: 'I know who takes how much percent from where. Political leaders and activists will face cases and attacks, and fertiliser dealerships will be given in exchange for money — this cannot happen.'
Agricultural economist Jahangir Alam Khan said that with the BNP in power, many people of the party receiving dealerships is a normal occurrence in this country; but unqualified people and relatives of agriculture officials receiving dealerships through money transactions is abnormal. He said those who paid for dealerships will try to recover the money by selling fertiliser at higher prices; the government can change dealerships obtained through irregularities, and it must increase field-level supervision and be strict in stopping irregularities.
The director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Md Abdur Rahim, on the other hand, claimed there were no irregularities in the dealer appointments. On Monday night he said: 'Dealer appointments have been made one hundred percent in accordance with the policy. Priority was given to the selection process of the district and upazila committees. As a result, there will be no crisis in the fertiliser supply system across the country.' He added that if any defects are found anywhere, action will be taken subject to investigation; the appointments are temporary and will be cancelled if irregularities are found.
After Monday's meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the agriculture ministry, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that under the conditions, if proof of irregularity is found within 90 days, the dealership concerned can be changed. Standing committee president Shahadat Hossain Selim said a call has been made to keep appointments suspended in areas where allegations of irregularities in dealer appointments have been received. The three-member committee formed on Monday will investigate the irregularity allegations and also look into ensuring transparency in fertiliser distribution and stock management.
