Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives, has levied a serious allegation claiming that an artificial fertilizer crisis has been deliberately orchestrated in constituencies represented by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Members of Parliament to undermine and discredit the BNP government.
He made these direct political accusations during a press conference held at the Kurigram Circuit House on Wednesday afternoon (September 30).
Displaying a color-coded map marked in red, the State Minister pointed out that artificial fertilizer shortages were reported in Kurigram, Rangpur, Narail, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Bagerhat, and Satkhira. Investigations revealed that candidates from Jamaat-e-Islami were elected as MPs in these specific constituencies.
Mir Shahe Alam claimed that as part of a strategy to mislead the public and humiliate the government, a specific political party mobilized its activists alongside dishonest dealers appointed during the previous fascist regime to manufacture this crisis and stage artificial protests, despite there being no actual shortage of fertilizer in Kurigram or anywhere else in the country during that period.
Outlining measures to resolve the issue in the agricultural sector, he announced that alongside existing dealers, new dealers will be appointed from among genuine local traders in every union. District and upazila committees have already compiled lists to quickly fill vacancies left by dealers who went missing or fled.
Regarding local government elections, the State Minister explicitly stated that all local elections will be completed between next January and June 30. He assured that the BNP will extend full cooperation to law enforcement agencies and the Election Commission to ensure free, fair, and neutral polls.
Commenting on the opposition’s long march program, he remarked that a motorcade demonstration over energy crises hardly constitutes a long march—suggesting it should have been conducted on foot instead—though he conceded that every party retains the right to protest in a democratic nation.
Following the press conference, the State Minister attended a law-and-order and regional development meeting organized by the district administration. Prominent local figures present included Saiful Islam, Administrator of Rangpur District Council and Convener of Rangpur District BNP; Mahmudul Haq Chowdhury Don, Administrator of Rangpur City Corporation; Mominul, Administrator of Lalmonirhat District Council; Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, Convener of Kurigram District BNP; and Sohel Hossain Kaykobad, Administrator of Kurigram District Council.
