‘When will MPs stop securing fertilizer dealerships for their families, party loyalists?’: Hasnat asks in Parliament

Cumilla-4 MP and National Citizen Party (NCP) senior joint convener Hasnat Abdullah has questioned the government over alleged nepotism and corruption in the allocation of fertilizer dealerships, demanding an end to the practice of favouring lawmakers' relatives and political loyalists.

Speaking on a point of order during the third sitting of the National Parliament's fourth session on Wednesday, Hasnat raised allegations of political patronage in dealer appointments across the country and directed his questions to Agriculture Minister Aminur Rashid.

“When will this culture end – where I become an MP, and my son, my wife and my nephew all become businessmen? When will this culture stop?” he asked.

Citing Thakurgaon as an example, Hasnat alleged that all 28 appointed fertilizer dealers in the district belonged to the BNP, with 10 of them being the wives, children or nephews of party leaders.

“Among them, 10 are the wives, children, and nephews of party leaders. Just a few days ago, a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader in Thakurgaon was hacked to death by the son of one of these leaders – a son who is also a dealership holder,” he said.

Hasnat also alleged irregularities in the nationwide distribution of fertilizer dealerships, claiming that lawmakers from reserved seats issued recommendation letters, known as DO letters, in exchange for financial benefits and arbitrarily expanded the areas covered by dealerships.

“There has been a free-for-all festivity in allocating fertilizer dealerships across the country,” he said.

“Under what legal provision did MPs in reserved seats issue DO letters in exchange for money, doubling allocations from 15 unions to 30 unions?”

Questioning whether the Agriculture Ministry had deliberately designed the allocation process to benefit political insiders and businessmen associated with the previous regime, Hasnat called for a review of the dealerships.

“Getting a dealership has become like grabbing a river. MPs' wives, nephews and sons got dealerships. The ministry created a system so that Awami League businessmen could regain access. Was this well-planned, and will these dealerships be reviewed?” he asked.

His remarks triggered an uproar in the House, prompting Deputy Speaker to seek the intervention of Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam.

Responding to the allegations, Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said Hasnat had presented inaccurate information before Parliament.