Fertiliser Dealer Fined Tk 50,000 in Meherpur's Gangni Over Artificial Shortage Allegation

A mobile court in Gangni upazila of Meherpur has fined a fertiliser dealer Tk 50,000 over allegations of creating an artificial fertiliser shortage and destabilising the market. The fined man is Sajidur Rahman, owner of Messrs Biswas Traders and a BADC fertiliser dealer.

The drive was carried out on Thursday evening (29 October) at Nawapara Bazar in Kathuli Union of Gangni upazila. The mobile court was conducted by Shakir Ahmed, assistant commissioner and executive magistrate at the Meherpur deputy commissioner's office.

According to mobile court sources, the drive was conducted at Messrs Biswas Traders following allegations of creating an artificial fertiliser shortage and an unstable situation in the market. After the allegation was found to be true, owner Sajidur Rahman was fined Tk 50,000 under section 19(d) of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 2018. The fine was also collected at the same time.

Gangni Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Mamun was present during the drive. Members of Gangni police and the Ansar force assisted in conducting the operation.

The administration said monitoring would be strengthened to protect farmers' interests, keep fertiliser supply and the market situation normal, and prevent irregularities such as putting farmers into hardship by creating an artificial shortage. It also said mobile court drives against such irregularities would continue.