State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku. File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, Sept 9, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku today said the government has taken various measures to ensure smooth management, supply and distribution of fertilizer, including setting up fertilizer monitoring cells in all 64 districts.

"We, on behalf of the government, have taken various steps to make the fertilizer supply and distribution system more developed and efficient," he said.

The state minister was speaking in response to an emergency public-importance discussion raised by opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mohammad Nazibur Rahman of Pabna-1 under Rule 68 of the Rules of Procedure at the Jatiya Sangsad.

He said the country's annual fertilizer demand is 35.87 lakh tonnes, while the current stock stands at 51.71 lakh tonnes, leaving a surplus of around 15.84 lakh tonnes.

To ensure smooth distribution, fertilizer monitoring cells have been operating across the country under the supervision of two joint secretaries and deputy secretaries, Tuku said.

The cells take necessary action whenever they receive complaints or allegations of irregularities from any part of the country, he added.

Regarding fertilizer dealerships, Tuku said the existing dealerships are still being operated by dealers appointed during the previous regime.

Of those dealers, around 3,759 have already left their positions, leaving the dealerships vacant, he said.

To fill the vacant positions, the government will appoint 4,918 new dealers at the union level. Each newly appointed dealer will subsequently be allowed to appoint two additional dealers at the union level, he said.

If the appointments are completed successfully, the fertilizer management system will become more efficient and help ensure smooth distribution across the country, Tuku said.

Responding to complaints from opposition lawmakers about a fertilizer crisis, the state minister said transplanted Aman is now at the mature stage, meaning farmers currently have relatively low demand for fertilizer.

He said, however, farmers are purchasing fertilizer in preparation for the upcoming Boro season, which could lead to increased demand for non-urea fertilizers.

Rejecting allegations by opposition lawmakers that the existing fertilizer management problems were linked to corruption, Tuku said the government had yet to appoint new dealers, as the deadline for submitting applications is September 10.

"So, how can the allegation of corruption be raised?" he questioned.

The state minister also accused elements of the previous regime of conspiring against the government, saying they were unhappy with the prevailing democratic environment.

He urged the opposition not to engage in sabotage or conspiracies, saying such activities would bring no benefit to them.

Calling the introduction of the 'Farmers Card' an honour for farmers, Tuku said opposition lawmakers had criticised the initiative in various ways but were now realising that it was a landmark decision by the government.

Participating in the discussion, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said the country has a substantial stock of fertilizer compared with the corresponding period last year.

As of September 9, the country had stocks of 4,018 lakh tonnes of urea, 3,343 lakh tonnes of triple super phosphate (TSP), 3,002 lakh tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and 1,789 lakh tonnes of muriate of potash (MoP), he said.

Besides, 1,282 lakh tonnes of TSP, 1,146 lakh tonnes of DAP and 1,894 lakh tonnes of MoP were under transportation, he added.

The country currently has 1,105 main fertilizer dealers and 31,600 retail dealers, Mir Shahe Alam said. The appointment of 8,687 new dealers, along with another 16,000 retail dealers, would further improve fertilizer distribution across the country, he added.

Replying to an allegation that local lawmakers had been excluded from fertilizer management committees under the new Integrated Policy for Fertilizer Dealer Appointment and Fertilizer Distribution-2026, the state minister said ruling-party lawmakers were not interested in being included in the local fertilizer management committees.

He said the new policy was aimed at reducing mismanagement in fertilizer management and supply at the grassroots level.

"Our prime goal is to work for the welfare of the marginal people. So, we are working intensively under the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," said State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam.

Opposition lawmakers M Mahbubul Alam of Kurigram-3, M Shafiqul Islam of Patuakhali-2 and Mohammad Nazibur Rahman of Pabna-1 also participated in the discussion.