A mobile court operating in Chapainawabganj has penalised a local trader 100,000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately £650) for illicitly hoarding agricultural inputs and selling chemical fertilizers at prices significantly exceeding government-fixed rates. The enforcement drive forms part of wider administrative efforts across Bangladesh to curb market manipulation and protect farmers from artificial price hikes during key cultivation cycles.
The raid took place at approximately 2:00 PM on Monday at an outlet trading under the name Messrs Islam Traders, located in Jhilim Union under Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila. Acting on specific intelligence regarding unfair trade practices, the executive magistrate led a surprise inspection of the commercial premises.
During the search, the mobile court uncovered substantial concealed stock intended for the black market. Enforcement officers seized 259 sacks of urea, 106 sacks of diammonium phosphate (DAP), and 45 sacks of triple superphosphate (TSP). Under existing agricultural regulations, registered chemical fertilizer dealers are strictly required to sell essential nutrients at designated maximum retail rates and maintain transparent stock ledgers to prevent local shortages.
Upon establishing that the proprietor, Noor Islam, had breached government pricing directives and maintained unaccounted inventory, the court imposed a spot fine of 100,000 Taka, which was collected immediately. Rather than confiscating the seized fertilizer outright, the tribunal ordered the entire stock of 410 sacks to be sold directly to local cultivators on the spot at official statutory prices, ensuring that the surrounding farming community obtained essential inputs without disruption. The proceeds generated from this controlled sale were subsequently handed over to the shop owner after deducting the penal fine.
The mobile court was led by the local Assistant Commissioner (Land), with operational support provided by officers from the Upazila Agriculture Office and personnel from the Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station. Confirming the details of the operation, Jhilim Union Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Md Ziaur Rahman noted that local field officers will maintain strict vigilance across rural markets to prevent dealers from charging inflated prices for essential agricultural commodities.
