Agriculture Adviser to the caretaker government Chowdhury Sajjadul Karim yesterday warned that legal steps would be taken against fertiliser traders who arc creating artificial crisis by hoarding the agriculture input in die northern region.

Die adviser was visiting Natore to assess field-level fertiliser distribution situation. He started a two-day tour of three northern districts yesterday.

Addressing die district officials

in the deputy commissioner's conference room, the adviser directed them to ensure smooth distribution of fertiliser among the farmers. He also warned of legal action against the people concerned if any wrongful aedvity is detected in fertiliser management.

"Diere is sufficient stock of fertiliser in the country...lf anyone is found to have been creating artificial crisis, stern action will be taken against him," he warned.

Later, the adviser went to Sherkol fertiliser market in Shingra

upazila. He talked to the farmers and sanctioned additional 1000 metric tons of fertiliser for the upazila.

He also visited fertiliser stores at Madrasa crossing and N'arayanpur in Natore town and expressed satisfaction over the distribution system. The adviser will visit fertiliser distribution in Rajshahi and Sirajganj today.

Meanwhile, the joint forces seized 3,714 sacks of fartiliser from Tangail, Gaibandha and Brahmanbaria districts on Wednesday and Thursday.

They also arrested five people-four in Tangail and one in Gaibandha--for illegal hoarding of fertiliser.

Our Tangail correspondent reported that the joint forces raided two BCIC dealer shops at Sagardighee Bazar in Ghatail upazila on Wednesday night, seized 1886 sacks of fertiliser and arrested four people.

The arrestees are BCIC dealer Abdul Jalil and his employees Aynal Haque, Abul Hossain, and Arifur Rahman.

Acting on a tip off, a joint team of army and police seized the fertiliser when dealer Abdul Jalil at Sagardighee Bazar was loading those on trucks, sources and witnesses said.

In Gaibandha, the joint forces in a drive on Thursday arrested fertiliser dealer Tota Mia at Harinabari village under Palashbari upazila for hoarding fertiliser. They seized 22 sacks of urea fertiliser from his possession, according to our correspondent.

Our Brahmanbaria correspondent adds:: The joint forces, led by a magistrate, seized 665 sacks of urea and 731 sacks of other types of fertilisers from the godown of Biplob Traders at Jagat Bazar in the district town on Thursday night.

On information, a team of the joint forces raided the godown at around 11:00pm and seized the fertiliser stocked illegally.

Biplob, the owner of the godown, is absconding. Police filed a case against Biplab for illegal hoarding of fertiliser.