Take action against ACI for supplying substandard agricultural machinery: parliamentary body

A parliamentary body yesterday recommended to take necessary action against the ACI company for supplying substandard life-saving materials and agricultural machinery, especially combined harvester.

The parliamentary watchdog on agriculture came up with the recommendations at its meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Ruling Awami League MP and chief of the parliamentary standing committee Matia Chowdhury presided over the meeting.

Committee members Abdur Razzak, also agriculture minister, Imaz Uddin Pramanik, Md. Moslem Uddin, Md. Mamunur Rashid Kiran, Anwarul Abedin Khan, Umme Kulsum and Hosne Ara participated in the meeting.

Contacted FH Ansarey, managing director, ACI Motors, told The Daily Star that they procured combined harvester -- manufactured in China -- from a Japanese company two years ago.

"This machine was marketed after proper test and examination," he added.

Ansarey said that 70 percent of the farmers bought this machine according to their choice during the last boro season.

"We are the major supplier in the market and it's the best choice of the farmers," he added.

The standing committee in the meeting also recommended to reduce dependency on India to meet the demand of onion.

The watchdog body recommended to take necessary steps to conduct research and take alternative planning to reduce the impact of India's ban on onion and jute seed exports to Bangladesh.

The Jatiya Sangsad committee also asked the ministry to take appropriate measures to identify the cause of the shortage of potatoes and onions even after most of the restaurants remained closed during the pandemic.

The meeting was attended by the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, heads of various departments and concerned officials of the ministry and the parliament secretariat.