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He added, “Previously, there was an unwritten competition between BCIC and BADC dealers, which caused management problems. Dealer units were also not clearly defined. If this policy is implemented, it will be a revolutionary development for Bangladesh.”

The policy’s main goals, he said, are to deliver fertiliser directly to farmers’ doorsteps and prevent black marketing or price manipulation.

Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, said the government aims to create a farmer-friendly fertiliser management system. “A syndicate often manipulates distribution for their benefit. Almost 65 percent of the Ministry’s budget is spent on fertiliser. If the government spends so much money, people should benefit properly,” he said.

He added that the government has identified around 2,000 problematic dealers and aims to allocate fertiliser based on land size, potentially saving Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000 crore annually.

Jahangir Alam Khan, a renowned agricultural economist, said, “Bringing the overall supervision of fertiliser dealer appointments and distribution under the Ministry of Agriculture is a significant and timely step.

“While the policy framework is timely, the government must ensure consistent availability of fertiliser to truly benefit farmers and boost agricultural productivity.”