Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has accused the BNP-led government of “extreme politicization” in appointing fertilizer dealers, alleging that corruption, nepotism and political favoritism have disrupted distribution and deepened the fertilizer crisis across the country.
Jamaat leader Mia Golam Porwar made the allegations at an emergency press briefing at the party’s central office in Moghbazar at 11:30 am on Thursday.
“There is no shortage of crises in the country; wherever you put your hand, there is a crisis,” Porwar said.
He alleged that fertilizer distribution and dealer appointments had been marked by widespread corruption, irregularities and political interference, leaving farmers struggling to obtain essential agricultural inputs.
Porwar accused the government of disregarding its own appointment policy and allowing political considerations to determine who receives fertilizer dealerships.
He also questioned why State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam was speaking publicly about the issue instead of the agriculture minister.
He claimed an “authoritarian political mindset” had taken hold among government ministers.
Porwar alleged that district-level dealer selection committees included three politically nominated members each, undermining the chances of qualified applicants.
He accused BNP leaders of accepting money in exchange for dealerships and claimed the government had failed “100 percent” in fertilizer distribution.
According to Porwar, nepotism, black-market sales, smuggling and administrative mismanagement have compounded the shortage.
He alleged that dealership lists submitted on political party letterhead had been accepted in several areas, bypassing established selection procedures.
Complaints of money being collected in exchange for dealerships had emerged from Dinajpur and Badarganj in Rangpur, among other places, he said.
Citing an investigation by The Dissent, Porwar said fertilizer shortages had affected constituencies represented by 14 BNP lawmakers.
He alleged that people from one area had received dealerships in another, individuals without previous experience in the fertilizer business had secured licenses, and multiple members of the same family had been appointed dealers.
Some applicants allegedly used fictitious warehouses and forged agreements to secure dealerships.
Porwar also claimed that a dealer appointment list prepared on BNP letterhead in Rangpur’s Pirgachha upazila included individuals associated with the Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party.
He accused Mir Shahe Alam of announcing that dealerships would be awarded to BNP’s “sacrificing leaders.”
Porwar further alleged that the appointments violated existing government policy and a High Court order.
Jamaat placed six demands before the government, including an immediate investigation into allegations of corruption, nepotism, political interference and financial transactions in dealership appointments.
The party demanded that the government publicly disclose the selection criteria, evaluation procedures, dealership lists and grounds for granting licenses.
It also called for a separate investigation into allegations that money had been collected from applicants, with legal action against those found responsible.
Jamaat urged the authorities to examine discrepancies between official statements on fertilizer availability and actual conditions across the country, and publish the relevant information.
The party demanded written explanations from officials responsible for the appointments and regular public updates on the investigation.
It also said allegations against individuals or political groups must be supported by evidence, warning against assigning blame through unsubstantiated accusations or political rhetoric.
Porwar separately accused the BNP government of attempting to establish an authoritarian constitutional framework that would allow it to remain in power indefinitely.
He said Jamaat wanted constitutional amendments carried out through a constitution reform council under the legal framework approved following the referendum, in accordance with its mandate.
The government was deliberately excluding opposition parties from the reform process, he alleged.
Porwar urged the government to resolve the disagreement in parliament rather than allowing it to spill onto the streets.
He expressed hope that the government would involve opposition parties in discussions during the next parliamentary session.
Referring to the July uprising, Porwar said the movement had raised expectations of a Bangladesh free from corruption, nepotism and political abuse.
He called on citizens to speak out against what he described as the government’s failures.
Porwar also warned that shortages of fertilizer, oil, gas, electricity and fuel were increasing production costs and consumer prices.
He urged the government to take immediate steps to ease the financial pressure on urban households and marginal farmers.