‘Dealers to lose licence for artificial fertiliser crisis’

The dealers will lose trade licence if they try to create fertiliser crisis in the country, as Bangladesh has enough stock of it to meet its demand until January next year, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said today.

Stern action will also be taken against those who will create the artificial crisis, the minister said.

He spoke at an event at the auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) at Farmgate in the capital.

The government gave Tk 28,000 crore in fertiliser subsidy last year, Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said at the event as the chief guest.

However, for the first time in 11 years, the government raised urea fertiliser price by Tk 6 a kg with effect from August 1 this year.

Farmers now have to pay Tk 22 for per kg fertiliser.

The last time the government increased the price of the fertiliser was in June 2011, when it was raised to Tk 20 from Tk 12 per kg.

Two years later, the government reduced the price to Tk 16 per kg.