Severe allegations of political nepotism, regulatory breaches, and corruption have surfaced over the appointment of chemical fertilizer dealers in Jashore district. A vast majority of the newly approved dealerships have been allocated to leaders, activists, and family members associated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Investigations reveal that out of 98 approved dealers in the district, at least 65 are directly affiliated with the BNP, its associate organisations, or their immediate relatives. Dealerships have been awarded to elderly mothers, wives, and children of prominent party figures, as well as to non-existent retail entities, in clear violation of official appointment guidelines.
Official guidelines stipulate that prospective dealers must possess prior experience in selling fertilizer and pesticides, with active traders receiving priority. In Jashore, however, these criteria were systematically ignored.
In Chaugachha Upazila, M/S Chaugachha Traders topped the approval list. The establishment is owned by Selim Reza Aulia, president of the Chaugachha Paurashava BNP. Local residents confirmed that Aulia has long operated a tiles business and possesses no prior experience in the fertilizer trade. When asked about his qualification, Aulia stated that he had applied and received the license from the government, adding that running a fertilizer business would not be difficult despite his lack of experience.
Other senior local figures adopted indirect routes. Rahima Akter Lipi, wife of former Chaugachha Upazila BNP president Jahurul Islam, secured the dealership in Patibila Union, bypassing four experienced applicants. In Hakimpur Union, M/S Nishan Traders was awarded to Amena Begum, the 60-year-old mother of Upazila BNP General Secretary Masudul Hasan. Neither Hasan nor his mother has any background in agricultural inputs, yet she also holds a government TCB dealership through similar means.
The pattern extends across the entire district. In August, administration officials initiated steps to appoint 101 dealers across 93 unions and eight municipalities. Based on recommendations from the Upazila and District Fertilizer and Seed Monitoring Committees, 98 appointments were approved: 16 in Jashore Sadar, 17 in Manirampur, 12 in Sharsha, 12 in Keshabpur, 9 in Abhaynagar, 11 in Chaugachha, 9 in Bagharpara, and 12 in Jhikargachha.
A breakdown of key allocation irregularities across various upazilas illustrates the extent of the political distribution:
| Upazila | Applicant / Business Name | Political Identity & Connection | Nature of Irregularity / Allegation |
| Chaugachha | M/S Chaugachha Traders (Selim Reza Aulia) | President, Chaugachha Paurashava BNP | Tiles merchant; zero prior experience in fertilizer retail. |
| Chaugachha | Rahima Akter Lipi | Wife of former President, Chaugachha BNP | Awarded over four experienced local fertilizer traders. |
| Chaugachha | M/S Nishan Traders (Amena Begum) | Mother of Secretary, Chaugachha BNP | Elderly homemaker with no business background; holds TCB license. |
| Chaugachha | M/S Amena Traders (Tarikul Islam Dablu) | President, Narayanpur Union BNP | Non-existent shop address; forged tenancy contract alleged by building owner. |
| Manirampur | M/S Nafis Enterprise (Masud Parvez Rubel) | Son of Acting President, Manirampur BNP | Allocated license through family political influence. |
| Manirampur | M/S Monirul Farazi (BM Monirul Alam Farazi) | Son of President, Abhaynagar BNP | Political allocation despite lack of retail qualifications. |
| Manirampur | M/S Lucky Enterprise (Molam Ali) | Financier, local Awami League chapter | Awarded dealership despite political controversy. |
| Manirampur | M/S Jannatul Ferdous Enterprise (Rowshan Ara) | Union Supervisor for government card scheme | Husband arrested by DB Police with yaba tablets and cash; conflict of interest. |
| Manirampur | M/S Sardar Enterprise (Tabibar Rahman Rumu) | Cousin of Secretary, Manirampur BNP | Listed address is an abandoned warehouse; no trading infrastructure. |
| Bagharpara | Abdur Rashid (Dohakula Union) | Brother of former AL MP’s driver | Alleged link to banned AL politics; appointed over qualified applicants. |
Beyond nepotism, the vetting process allowed shell companies to secure distribution rights. In Narayanpur Union, M/S Amena Traders—controlled by Union BNP President Tarikul Islam Dablu—listed an address where no such shop exists. The building owner publicly alleged that his signature on the tenancy agreement was forged. Similarly, in Nehalpur, M/S Sardar Enterprise listed a site that turned out to be an abandoned structure where no commercial trading had ever occurred.
Agricultural officers, speaking anonymously, admitted that district authorities forwarded lists received from upazila levels straight to the ministry without physical verification or field inspections. Consequently, veteran traders operating since 2008 were excluded simply due to a lack of political backing.
The distribution has sparked widespread anger. Demonstrations, press conferences, and formal complaints have flooded the district administration. Five Jamaat-e-Islami MPs held a joint press conference in Jashore, accusing the administration of ignoring official recommendations to favor BNP nominees. District BNP General Secretary Delwar Hossain Khokon denied party interference, asserting that while many party members applied and succeeded, final vetting remained the sole responsibility of the district administration.
Following mounting public outcry, the administration has withheld appointments in three unions and formed a three-member investigation committee, led by Deputy Director of Local Government Rofiqul Hasan, to probe 21 controversial dealerships across Chaugachha, Bagharpara, and Manirampur.
