The agriculture ministry in September last year warned the industries ministry about the shortage of fertiliser mentioning its stock position against the demand for it, and saying the stock was the lowest in eight years.

Again, the agriculture minister in a letter to the industries ministry in January this year informed it about the shortage of one lakh tonnes of fertiliser against the requirement. But the ministry failed to meet the shortage through import and local production in time that led to the fertiliser crisis, a parliamentary body observed yesterday, reviewing the facts at a meeting.

The parliamentary standing committee on agriculture ministry blamed the industries ministry for mismanagement in distributing fertiliser. It asked the authorities concerned to find out the persons responsible for this.

Agriculture Minister MK Anwar in a letter to the industries minister in September said the stock of fertiliser was supposed to be between four lakh tonnes and 4.5 lakh tonnes. "But the actual stock is now 2.48 lakh tonnes," the letter said.

Talking to The Daily Star after yesterday's meeting, committee member and Awami League lawmaker Dr Abdur Razzak said the industries ministry was supposed to import seven lakh tonnes of fertiliser but it imported less than the requirement.

Officials of the industries ministry however claimed at the meeting that there is no fertiliser crisis.

But the AL lawmaker said the agriculture minister admitted that there was a shortage of fertiliser but it was met.