TDS Desk:

The government has unveiled a unified national policy aimed at streamlining fertilizer dealership and distribution, introducing tighter oversight and a single management structure beginning Sunday (November 16).

The “Integrated Policy on Fertiliser Dealership and Distribution-2025,” signed by Additional Secretary Ahmed Faisal Imam of the Ministry of Agriculture, according to an official statement Friday (November 14). Officials said the new framework is intended to ensure timely access for farmers, reduce corruption, and improve accountability across the supply chain.

The policy replaces separate dealership systems previously run by the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCCI) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Under the new rules, each union will be served by three government-registered dealers, and sub-dealers will be phased out once the updated dealership structure is in place.

Furthermore, the policy states that fertilizer dealers must be residents of the union, city corporation, or municipality where they operate. They must also have a warehouse in their own area, either owned or rented, with a minimum storage capacity of 50 tons. Fertilizer and pesticides cannot be stored in the same facility. Warehouses may not be attached to food shops, restaurants, cattle feed stores, fish feed shops, or vegetable shops.

Each dealer must be financially solvent and provide a recent bank certificate showing at least BDT 1 million. Dealers are also required to maintain three sales centers within their own union, municipality, or city corporation. Except for the main warehouse, the other two centers must have storage capacities of 5 to 10 tons.

The policy also states that every sales center must display all information related to government subsidies and sale prices. Sales, withdrawals, and accounts must be stored digitally. Dealers cannot sell or transfer fertilizer outside their designated centers. Buying, selling, transporting, or storing fertilizer is prohibited at any location not approved by the government.

The statement said the policy was approved by the Fertilizer Affairs National Coordination and Consultation Committee to create a more systematic and transparent distribution network. Dealership cancellations and renewals will undergo more intensive evaluation to strengthen compliance.

The Ministry of Agriculture has published the full policy on its website (www.moa.gov.bd) and directed stakeholders seeking clarification to contact its offices at 02-55100351 or 02-55100495.