Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has directed officials to take immediate action wherever fertilizer is sold at inflated prices. Speaking on Saturday at a public gathering in Harindhara Primary School field after inspecting Gomti River and Jayanta Canal in Burichang upazila, Cumilla, he instructed agricultural officers to collect evidence in plain clothes, record videos, and take written undertakings from violators to ensure accountability.

The minister emphasized that about 70 percent of the population is involved in agriculture and that protecting farmers’ interests is a key government responsibility. He said the government has fixed the purchase price of paddy based on production costs to ensure fair returns for farmers. Under a pre-piloting phase, farmer cards have been distributed in 11 agricultural blocks across 10 districts, providing Tk 2,500 in assistance to marginal and small farmers.

Rashid also announced the construction of a modern vegetable storage facility at Nimsar market to help farmers preserve produce and sell at fair prices. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to act against syndicates inflating prices of fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides.