Two Gurudaspur dealers served show-cause over smuggling 30 sacks of urea to neighbouring upazilas
Photo: Collected
Two fertiliser dealers in Gurudaspur, Natore have been served show-cause notices over allegations of smuggling fertiliser to neighbouring upazilas. The notices were served on dealers Gias Uddin and Siddiqur Rahman Shah on Wednesday (4 November) afternoon.
Upazila Agriculture Officer K M Rafiul Islam confirmed the notices. He said the two dealers have been asked to reply within the next three working days; if the replies are not satisfactory, legal action will be taken against them.
The officer added that Gias Uddin had earlier been fined Tk 20,000 over fertiliser smuggling, and Siddiqur Rahman Shah’s business over selling fertiliser at higher prices. They got away then by paying the fines and giving bonds. This time the allegation is of smuggling fertiliser to neighbouring upazilas.
According to the upazila agriculture office, on Monday Gias Uddin sold 10 sacks of urea fertiliser to a farmer from Shyampur village in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj. Meanwhile, 20 sacks of urea fertiliser were sold from Siddiqur Rahman Shah’s business to a trader in Bhangura upazila of Pabna.
While the fertiliser was being carried in three separate auto-vans, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fahmida Afroz stopped the vans at Bilbiaspur on the Bonpara-Hatikumrul highway, on the border of Gurudaspur and Tarash upazilas. The 30 sacks of fertiliser and three auto-vans were later seized.
UNO Fahmida Afroz said no one connected was found at the scene when the fertiliser was seized, so no immediate action could be taken. However, the upazila agriculture officer has been directed to take action under the rules after reviewing the statements of the detained van drivers and the cash memos of the dealers concerned. Administrative efforts to prevent fertiliser manipulation have also been stepped up.
Meanwhile, cultivation of various rabi crops — broadcast-sown mustard, zero-tillage garlic, maize and others — has begun across Chalan Beel. Amid this, a fertiliser shortage has hit Gurudaspur upazila. Farmers queue up at dealers’ sales points every day, yet cannot get as much fertiliser as they need. As a result, farmers are worried about this season’s cultivation.
Background
According to an Ittefaq report of 28 September, an artificial fertiliser shortage was also created through dealers’ manipulation in neighbouring Tarash upazila of Sirajganj, forcing farmers to buy fertiliser at higher prices.
Jugantor reported on 9 September that agriculture officers of 15 districts were served show-cause notices over allegations of an artificial fertiliser shortage; four district agriculture officers were withdrawn and four more were given stand release.
Sources
Original report: Ajker Patrika
Background sources: Ittefaq, 28 September 2026; Jugantor, 9 September 2026
