Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said Bangladesh faces no fertiliser shortage and warned that action will be taken against retailers found creating an artificial scarcity or charging higher prices. He made the remarks on Saturday as chief guest at a meeting with onion and jute growers in Faridpur district at the Faridpur Sadar উপজেলা পরিষদ auditorium.

The minister said the country imports about 1.5 million tonnes more fertiliser than total demand and also maintains an equivalent security stock, leaving no scope for a national shortage. He alleged that some wrongdoers and conspirators were deliberately attempting to keep fertiliser prices high. Some retailers, he said, claim fertiliser is unavailable but supply it when customers pay extra.

Rashid said the government is working to reduce agricultural import dependence, including by developing domestic sources of jute and onion seeds. He said the wider goal is to meet demand through local output and eventually export agricultural products rather than import them. The government is also pursuing self-sufficiency in essentials including green chillies, ginger and garlic.