NEWS report on Friday said that five out of six fertilizer factories in the country have been shut for repair and maintenance; which looks like unprecedented to bear huge consequences in terms of sharp fall in fertilizer production and stock building for seasonal supply. Agricultural production may suffer setback in the upcoming Boro season as a result of it and one may wonder why so many fertilizer plants have been shut at a time for any reason whatsoever.
It appears that the shutdown has come at a time when continued gas crisis in the country is hitting power generation to provide enough supply of electricity to industries. One can’t also deny the growing incidence of load-shedding to households in the capital, in addition to the fact that the rural electricity network is suffering from severe supply cut to rural households. One gets supply of only few hours in a day as electricity comes and goes. So there is the possibility that the authorities might have shut the fertilizer plants to save gas and give it to power plants to beef up supply to industry and household consumers.
But when the reason has been pointed out for overhauling some factories and run the repair and maintenance of some others, it leaves one to wonder why all such factories need maintenance at a time, even though it is a lean period. It may be either because of the fact that the concerned government authorities lack adequate planning to repair the factories in phases or the fact is that local and international contractors are using influence on the authorities to open big overhauling business to mutually benefit from it.
We know that such supply and repair work involves huge capital and faulty contract or unsolicited bidding always leads to unbridled corruption and misappropriation of government fund. Government business is den of corruption at all levels. We are afraid whether or not such business quarters are having hands behind such decisions. It is no secret that politically powerful persons or business houses are relentlessly promoting such business and amassing unaccounted wealth. In our view watchdog agencies must look into the matter.
Market statistics showed Bangladesh needs 2.6 million tonnes of fertilizer annually while local production stands at around 1 million tonnes. The rest comes from imports. Now if big plants remain shut over a longer period the need for fertilizer import will further grow. It means party men will get import order when it is an open secret that such importers bring poor quality fertilizer, which is often not even suitable for use in cropland. Moreover dealers appointed from party men mint illegal fortune selling fertilizer at black market. We want to say that let there be transparency and accountability that will ensure protection to public interest.
It appears that the shutdown has come at a time when continued gas crisis in the country is hitting power generation to provide enough supply of electricity to industries. One can’t also deny the growing incidence of load-shedding to households in the capital, in addition to the fact that the rural electricity network is suffering from severe supply cut to rural households. One gets supply of only few hours in a day as electricity comes and goes. So there is the possibility that the authorities might have shut the fertilizer plants to save gas and give it to power plants to beef up supply to industry and household consumers.
But when the reason has been pointed out for overhauling some factories and run the repair and maintenance of some others, it leaves one to wonder why all such factories need maintenance at a time, even though it is a lean period. It may be either because of the fact that the concerned government authorities lack adequate planning to repair the factories in phases or the fact is that local and international contractors are using influence on the authorities to open big overhauling business to mutually benefit from it.
We know that such supply and repair work involves huge capital and faulty contract or unsolicited bidding always leads to unbridled corruption and misappropriation of government fund. Government business is den of corruption at all levels. We are afraid whether or not such business quarters are having hands behind such decisions. It is no secret that politically powerful persons or business houses are relentlessly promoting such business and amassing unaccounted wealth. In our view watchdog agencies must look into the matter.
Market statistics showed Bangladesh needs 2.6 million tonnes of fertilizer annually while local production stands at around 1 million tonnes. The rest comes from imports. Now if big plants remain shut over a longer period the need for fertilizer import will further grow. It means party men will get import order when it is an open secret that such importers bring poor quality fertilizer, which is often not even suitable for use in cropland. Moreover dealers appointed from party men mint illegal fortune selling fertilizer at black market. We want to say that let there be transparency and accountability that will ensure protection to public interest.
