Fake fertilisers sold openly in N dists

In most of the areas, the unscrupulous people involved in the deceitful trade are linked to ruling parties, according to reports from our correspondents.

They are not only deceiving thousands of farmers but also damaging crop lands by reducing fertility.

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At places, the dishonest traders are doing the brisk business within the knowledge of officials. They are doing the business taking the advantage of high demand during the current peak season for cultivation of IRRI paddy and vegetables including potato.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports:

Despite recovery of spurious fertiliser from several areas in the district, the illegal business harmful for farmers continues in the district. The culprits are beyond the reach of law enforces, allegedly because of their links with the ruling parties, sources said.

The authorities could not take any step against the criminals for unknown reason.

Gobindaganj upazila in the district is known as a den of the dishonest traders. They mainly produce fake TSP, SSP and MP fertilisers by mixing soil, brick chips and cement with imported fertilisers, sources and some users said.

Local people said some organised gangs are involved in the business, who allegedly maintain close links also with law enforcers.

At times such spurious fertilisers are sold at lower prices but farmers can not differentiate those from genuine fertilisers.

It is really hard to identify genuine fertiliser as the spurious ones look brighter than the genuine fertilisers, said some cheated farmers at Fasitola Bazar in Gobindagnaj upazila.

Local agriculture officials said repeated use of spurious fertiliser reduces fertility of croplands.

On November 21, a taskforce recovered 1522 bags of spurious Urea fertiliser from the godown of one Santi Shaha at Gobindaganj. Despite filing of a case, no action was taken against him. There were some other such cases, but to no effect. The are in business.

On November 29, Gobindaganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer in a drive recovered 643 bags of spurious MP fertilizer from the godown of one Faizul Islam at Fasitola Bazar. UNO sealed the godown and filed case against the trader. The trader escaped police net for some days and the problem was over, sources said.

Last year also, huge quantities of spurious fertilisers were unearthed from Palashbari upazila but culprits wet unpunished.

Our Magura Correspondent reports: Fake TSP fertiliser bags with 'Made in China seals are being sold in markets in the district.

In Shalikha, police on Friday arrested four persons from Arpara market in the upazila headquarters for producing fake TSP. But the factory owner escaped.

Saiful Islam, a farmer in Shotokhali village in Shalikha said, the spurious TSP was produced by mixing cow dung, soil, urea and cement with imported Indian TSP.

The factory was run with the blessings of some ruling party leaders and Union Parishad members in the area, sources said.

"The factory owner escaped police net as he is brother-in-law of a top leader of Shalikha thana BNP," Saiful Islam said.

During a visit to the area on Thursday, this correspondent saw the factory in a tin-shed house. It was locked from inside and seven workers were engaged in manufacturing fake TSP.

Talking to The Daily Star, Deputy-Director of Magura DAE (Department Agriculture Extension) Osiul Islam said, "There is no approved TSP factory in Magura".

Contacted over telephone Shalikha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Bikorno Kumar Ghosh said that he had heard about production of fake TSP fertilisers. Legal steps will be taken after investigation, he said.