Dealers in Cox’s Bazar have been selling urea fertiliser at prices higher than those prescribed by the government, resulting in brisk business for themselves and misery for the farmers.
Although the government has stipulated urea’s selling price at Tk16 per kg, as against the earlier price of Tk20, many fertiliser traders continue selling urea at the higher rate.
Farmers are being forced to pay Tk200-Tk300 more for every sack of urea.
In order to help the farmers, the government has subsidized urea to the extent of Tk4 per kg and directed the dealers to sell urea to the farmers at Tk16.
Farmers said dealers’ shops – Islami Brothers, Jahir & Sons, Hazi Rafiq & Sons, Kader Traders, Habib Traders – have been selling urea at higher prices.
An employee of Islam Brothers said they were selling fertiliser at Tk19-Tk20/kg.
Jasim Uddin, who works in a fertiliser dealer’s shop, said: “We will not make any profit if we maintain government stipulated rate.”
However, Agriculture Officer Enayet Ullah Rabbi said every dealer had been provided the government price list. “We have our monitoring cells in all the markets.”
Kazi Abdur Rahman, upazila nirbahi officer, said they would investigate into the matter.
