Farmers broke into a fertiliser dealer’s warehouse and took away 197 sacks of urea and MOP fertiliser in Kurigram’s Bhurungamari upazila on Sunday, alleging an artificial shortage and overcharging.
The incident occurred around noon at Dhaldanga Bazar in Shilkhuri Union.
Police and local BNP leaders were present at the scene when the farmers broke through the warehouse’s tin fencing and took the fertiliser.
Additional police later arrived and brought the situation under control. By the afternoon, 58 of the 197 sacks had been returned, while most of the fertiliser remained unaccounted for.
According to locals, preparations were underway to distribute fertiliser at M/s Shah Amanat Enterprise, a BCIC-authorised dealer in the union. Four police personnel and local BNP leaders were present during the distribution.
Several farmers alleged that they had been visiting the dealer for days but were unable to obtain fertiliser. They claimed the dealer was selling part of the union’s allocated supply to retail traders, leaving farmers unable to buy enough fertiliser.
They also alleged that a sack priced at Tk1,300 was being sold by traders for Tk1,800–1,900, causing losses to farmers and threatening their crops.
Taifur Rahman Mukul, proprietor of M/s Shah Amanat Enterprise, said preparations were underway to distribute fertiliser when several people surrounded him and broke through the warehouse fencing.
“Farmers took away 197 sacks of urea and MOP fertiliser. The situation became so tense that police and the administration struggled to control it,” he said, adding that he would file a case over the incident.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Jabbar, however, denied allegations of a fertiliser shortage or sales above the government-fixed price.
“There is no fertiliser shortage in the union where the incident occurred. We are trying to recover the fertiliser,” he said.
However, a mobile court led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amrit Deb Nath later found evidence supporting the farmers’ allegation that fertiliser was being sold to retail traders instead of farmers.
The mobile court fined a dealer Tk5,000 in Paglahat area of Shilkhuri Union over the allegation.
“We are conducting inspections at dealer points and retail markets, taking the farmers’ complaints seriously,” the UNO said.
Bhurungamari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Azim Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune that 197 sacks of fertiliser were taken away during the distribution.
“Fearing they would not get fertiliser, people who had come to collect it took away the sacks,” he said.
Police had recovered 58 sacks by the afternoon, he said, adding that legal action would be taken if the remaining fertiliser was not returned.