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Govt policy irks TSP traders

By Govinda Shil
High-nutrient Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) importers are dissatisfied with what they say government’s dual policy on fertiliser packing material in the country.
The state-owned TSP factory in Chittagong, managed by the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), is allowed to put TSP fertilisers In propyline (PP) packs, while the private importers are not. The government also uses PP bags tor urea fertiliser it imports itself.
The government had earlier decided to get imported urea and TSP packed in Jute bags in order to patronise the crisis-ridden jute Industry.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury had promised the importers at a meeting with them on August 17 to allow them packing TSP fertiliser in
PP bags The minister repor-terdly also encouraged traders to import high nutrient fer-tiliser like TSP
An importer, Mosharaf Hossain of the Messrs Mosharaf and Brothers told the The Dally Star that the minister was supposed to issue a circular allowing PP bags within next three to seven days of the August 17meeting.
TSP importers do not know what to do with the imported TSP if the customs officials do not let them use PP bags
"We are very much worried because we did not get any permission to use PP bags so far. But relying on the minister, we are importing 18,000 tonnes of bulk TSP from USA at a cost of Tk 18 crore. The ship is scheduled to reach the Chittagong Girt on October 20.' said
osharaf Hossain.
He said if he does not receive the permission by October 20. he will have to pay US 8 10.000 a day to the shipping line as charges.
The cost of PP bag is lower than the Jute bag. A Jute bag costs Tk 18. while a.PP bag 12 taka only Besides. PP bags last long while lute bag needs change within 15 days. And urea and TSP are corrosive to Jute bags
Bangladesh Fertiliser Association (BFA) executive secretary Abdul Baten resents the government policy. ‘If the government allows its own factories to use PP bags then why can't we?" asked Baten.
Baten said the BFA was planning to bring the issue to attention of the prime minister
Meanwhile, alleged reluctance of the government to resolve problems in the fertiliser
business is pushing the traders to continue to surrender their dealerships. A few new dealers who got licenses recently are also calling it quits because "farmers were not buying fertiliser-.
"I am surrendering my dealership because I am getting nothing out of my investment.’ said a representative of Ra Jshahi based SN Nahar Corporation. who got the lincense recently.
He submitted seperate appll- I cations to the Zia Fertiliser Company and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation seeking withdrawal of dealership
Nahar Corporation has asked the government to return its Tk 200.000 A total of Tk 80 crore were deposited with the BCIC by about 4.000 dealers all over the country.