Azad blames Opposition for 'artificial' fertiliser crisis

NILPHAMARI, Aug 27: Opposition parties are trying to damage the government’s image by artificially creating a fertiliser crisis, said Water Resources State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad.

He said all the existing fertiliser dealers were appointed during the previous Awami League government and had been continuing the business through family connections.

“Instead of cancelling the existing dealerships, we issued a second circular to appoint dealers against vacant positions. We have extended the deadline for the third circular and will appoint one dealer in each union through the respective Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs),” he said.

“This will ensure that people can easily get fertiliser,” the state minister added.

He also urged law enforcement agencies to take action so that no one can sell fertiliser at inflated prices.

Farhad Hossain made the remarks as the chief guest at an Eid-e-Miladunnabi programme in Chilahati of Domar Upazila around 6pm on Wednesday.

Speaking about the Teesta Master Plan, the state minister said work on the project would begin in 2027, as promised in the government’s election manifesto.

“The project will alleviate the long-standing suffering of hundreds of thousands of people in the northern region,” he said.

He said the government would work to make local people self-reliant so that they could engage in farming, fish farming and duck rearing comfortably.

Farhad Hossain said the groundwater level in the region was falling steadily.

“Previously, we could get water for tube wells by digging 20 to 25 feet. Now, even after digging 200 feet, water cannot always be found. In the Barind region, water is not available even after digging 600 to 700 feet,” he said.

He said Bangladesh shares 54 rivers with India, but many of them were gradually disappearing.

“Dams, sluice gates and barrages are being built at different places to divert water, creating a situation that could turn Bangladesh into a desert,” he said.

Urging the Indian government to ensure Bangladesh’s fair share of water under international law, he said, “If you consider Bangladesh a friend, please take steps to protect the country from desertification by ensuring its rightful share of water under the UN Charter.”

“If you do so, we will believe that you want to maintain friendly relations with Bangladesh,” he added.

Domar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shayla Sayeed Tanvi, Domar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Habibullah, district BNP Joint Convener Reyazul Islam Kalu and others attended the programme.