No fertiliser shortage, distribution disorder part of conspiracy: Agri Minister

Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Tuesday said Bangladesh has no shortage of fertiliser, claiming that the disorder surrounding its distribution despite adequate stocks is part of a planned conspiracy.

“In many places, government warehouses do not even have enough space to store the available fertiliser,” he said, while speaking to reporters at a press briefing at the Secretariat on measures to improve airport facilities, including cold storage and cool-room facilities at cargo villages, to boost agricultural exports.

He said the government has introduced a new fertiliser distribution policy and those who fear they will be deprived under the new system are creating problems in various ways.

“The situation will gradually return to normal,” he said.

As the country has sufficient fertiliser stocks, there is no reason to be concerned about any conspiracy, the minister said.

Addressing those creating disorder over fertiliser distribution, he said, “This is not good. Please do not do this.”

On boosting agricultural exports, the minister said the government is taking initiatives to improve infrastructure and storage facilities at airports.

He said expanding cold storage and cool-room facilities at cargo villages would enable exporters to ship agricultural products more quickly while preserving their quality.

Improved airport infrastructure would also help reduce delays in handling perishable agricultural goods and support efforts to expand Bangladesh's agricultural exports, he added.