Distribution of about 40,000 tonnes of various fertilisers in Khulna has been held up due to the on going blockade and hartals across the country.
These fertilisers, which are crucial for Boro cultivation could not be delivered to the south-west and northern regions of the country due to lack of transport facility.
About 15,000 tonnes of these fertilisers are left out in the open making them to lose quality due to moisture and dust.
As such, traders and workers related to fertiliser business are counting heavy loss while the farmers fear of poor Boro cultivation in the season if they fail to get the fertilisers in time.
Farmer Abdur Rahman expressed his concern: “We use fertilisers such as TSP, urea, MOP and DAP during January to March. But if the blockade continues, we will not be able to get the fertilisers in time and apply them to the field.”
According to the Khulna Fertiliser Association, the fertilisers stored in Khalishpur, Shiromoni and Noapara are distributed to 42 destinations of the country including Jessore, Bagherhat and Faridpur. However, due to the non-stop blockade and frequent hartals the supply has been severely disrupted.
Fertiliser dealer Sheikh Haroon said, about 15,000 tonnes of fertiliser is left under open sky at 7 number ghat area of Khulna city.
Agriculturalist Mushtak Ahmed said, another 1336 tonnes is stored at Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation in Khulna. A further 14,000 tonnes was on the way from Morocco, Belarus, Canada, Tunisia and other countries through various shipping agents.
On January 4, before all the political chaos started, a total of 1419 tonnes of MOP fertiliser was distributed from various points of Khulna. But the figure sharply dropped to 539 tonnes per day on an average after the blockade was enforced.
This stagnant situation has also led to a miserable condition for the workers.
Liton Sheikh, who works at the 7 number ghat area, said: “15-20 vehicles used to come to the area previously. And we would make about Tk500 a day by working from 8am-5pm. But now we hardly have any work. It has become difficult to maintain a family.”
General Secretary of 6 and 7 number jetty handling labour union, Mohd Kamal Hossain said, there were about 1200 workers in the union. “They used to earn Tk500-700 a day. But most of them are unemployed now,” he added.
Fertiliser dealer Sheikh Haroon said: “There is a lack of transportation. We are having to pay double the regular charge for a truck. But even then transport owners do not agree to operate their vehicles fearing arson attacks.”
M H Dulal, proprietor of fertiliser distributor Dulal and Sons, said the whole chain of fertiliser supply from the Mongla port to the field of a farmer had been hampered due to the blockade and hartals. He feared if the situation lingered on, the Boro production in the country would be heavily affected.
Convenor of Khulna Fertiliser Association Gazi Abul Kalam Azad expressed frustration over the political turmoil and urged a quick end to the situation.