Irregularity Alleged in BCIC Fertiliser Dealer Appointment in Ranishankail, Written Complaint Seeks Probe

Allegations of irregularity and breach of conditions have been raised over the appointment of a BCIC fertiliser dealer in Ranishankail upazila of Thakurgaon. The allegation is against Rabiul Islam Roni, the newly appointed dealer for Nanduar union. Sadia Nasrin, a resident of Bangaon village in the same union and daughter of Bir Muktijoddha Rasedul Islam, has filed a written complaint with the deputy commissioner, who also chairs the district fertiliser and seed monitoring committee, demanding an investigation and necessary action.

According to the complaint, after a dealer appointment notice was published under a government gazette notification, applications were invited locally. Later, a list naming three applicants from each union of the upazila was sent to the deputy commissioner and the district committee, signed by Golam Rabbani Sardar, president of the Ranishankail upazila fertiliser and seed monitoring committee and the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Pirganj holding additional charge.

The list included Rabiul Islam Roni, son of Hasmat Ali of the Gazirhat area of Nanduar union and proprietor of Messrs Roni Traders. The complainant claims Roni Traders is a retail fertiliser seller listed by the upazila agriculture office.

The dealer appointment notice signed by Deputy Commissioner and district committee president Mohammad Rafiqul Haque states that an applicant, or any member of the applicant's family, who is a retail fertiliser seller will be considered ineligible for appointment as a dealer. The complainant claims that despite this condition, retail seller Rabiul Islam received the dealership.

A visit to the spot found Roni Traders, located by the road at Gazirhat Bazar in Nanduar union, selling fertiliser at retail, with the establishment's manager Al Mamun making the sales. Feed, cement and other goods are also sold there. Pointing to a warehouse nearby, he said it currently holds cement and feed, which could be moved so fertiliser can be stored there instead. He said they have no other warehouse.

Contacted by mobile phone, Rabiul Islam first denied selling fertiliser at retail. When told that retail sales were taking place at his shop, he said he buys fertiliser from Mandal Enterprise, a local BCIC dealer, and sells it.

However, Rabiul Islam's name appears on the list of retail fertiliser sellers signed by upazila agriculture officer Laila Arjuman.

Laila Arjuman said that although she is the member-secretary of the upazila fertiliser and seed monitoring committee, its president, UNO Golam Rabbani Sardar, did not consult or discuss with her before finalising the dealer appointment list, and that the UNO acted on his own decision. For that reason, she said, she had no comment on the matter.

Asked about the matter, Golam Rabbani Sardar, the Pirganj UNO holding additional charge of Ranishankail, declined to speak.

Meanwhile, Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner and district fertiliser-seed monitoring committee president Mohammad Rafiqul Haque said necessary action would be taken if a written complaint on the matter is received.