"We have already sent a letter to the finance ministry asking not to go for off-loading the majority shares of those state-owned enterprises as all of them are profitable," said the minister at a regular press conference of the ministry.

The government earlier decided to offload the shares of the SoEs.

Motiur Rahman Nizami also said there is no irregularities in distribution of fertilizer in the country.

"Any shortage and apprehension of non-availability of fertilizer is just the creation of a section of media," Nizami said. "

"Per metric ton of imported fertilizer costs between Tk18, 000 and Tk20, 000 and locally produced fertilizer costs Tk 6,000. But both kinds of fertilizer are sold at a subsidised price of Tk4, 800 per ton," he said.

Deputy Minister for Industries Abdus Salam Pintu was also present.