Dhaka, May 14 -- Concern over availability of urea during the upcoming Aman-cultivation season has intensified, as the state-run Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) struggles to secure sufficient imports amid the Middle East crisis and several local fertiliser factories remained shut due to gas shortage.

Although Bangladesh has adequate non-urea fertiliser stocks for the next few months, the BCIC currently has only around 0.35 million tonnes of urea in reserve, which is expected to meet demand only until June.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the country will require at least another 0.66 million tonnes of urea during the Aman season between July and September. Aman contributes around 38-40 per ...