The government will import 16.81 lakh tonnes of urea for this fiscal year to maintain a smooth supply of the fertiliser during the upcoming boro season, said Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday.
Speaking at a press meet at his office, Barua said demand for fertiliser this fiscal year stands at around 37.31 lakh tonnes according to the agriculture ministry.
The urea will be sourced from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company and through international bidding.
Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will produce 11.50 tonnes of urea, one lakh tonne of TSP and 1.50 tonnes of DAP, he added.
The government will also import 4.60 lakh tonnes of TSP and 1.90 lakh tonnes of DAP through Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and private importers.
The minister said three factories under BCIC produced 1.66 lakh tonnes of urea for the current fiscal year, as of Monday.
"Jamuna and Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd cannot start production due to a lack of gas pressure."
The industries minister said Ghorasal Urea Fertiliser Factory is also closed now because of a glitch in its operating system.
"These three factories will resume operations soon."
Demand for fertiliser, during the peak season from January to March, is around 12 lakh tonnes in Bangladesh, six lakh tonnes lower than its availability from production and imports.
From July 10 to October 25, Bangla-desh produced 1.66 lakh tonnes of fertiliser and imported 4.23 lakh tonnes.
“Today [yesterday] nearly 68,000 tonnes of fertiliser has been unloaded from Chittagong and Mongla ports and sent to different buffer warehouses countrywide," Barua said.
The government took an initiative to build two transit warehouses at the Chittagong and Mongla port with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes each.
BCIC also plans to build buffer warehouses, each with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes, in 13 districts.
People need not worry, as the country has a sufficient stock of the fertiliser, the minister said.