Fertiliser-related unrest continues to grip Kurigram, with fresh tensions reported in Rowmari following similar disturbances in Bhurungamari and Nageshwari upazilas.
The situation escalated in Rowmari on Monday morning when agitated farmers allegedly broke through the fence and door of a fertiliser dealer’s warehouse and took away more than 100 bags of fertiliser.
The incident took place at the warehouse of M/s Mita-Hasan Enterprise in the Mahila Collegepara area of Rowmari Sadar Union.
However, the local administration denied that the fertiliser was looted, saying some farmers took bags amid a rush after collecting fertiliser. Videos of the incident, portraying it as looting, later spread on social media.
Witnesses said the dealer, agriculture officials and law enforcement personnel were absent from the sales point even after the scheduled time for distribution had passed. Frustrated by the delay, farmers allegedly broke through the warehouse’s tin fence and took away more than 100 bags.
Some carried the bags on their heads, while others loaded them onto autorickshaws and vans.
Farmer Zakir Hossain, a witness, told Dhaka Tribune that farmers from Ward 3 of Bandaber Union and nearby areas had gathered outside the warehouse since early morning to collect fertiliser.
“After waiting for a long time without seeing the dealer, frustration grew among the farmers. When distribution had not started even by 11am, tensions mounted. At one point, they broke through the warehouse fence, entered the premises and took away more than 100 bags,” he said.
Saiful Islam, manager of the dealership, said fertiliser distribution was scheduled to begin around 9:30am.
“But as the situation became tense, we went to the UNO seeking administrative assistance. Meanwhile, frustrated farmers broke the warehouse fence and door and took away fertiliser bags. Some later returned the bags, while others left them by the roadside. Some also paid for the fertiliser they took. The exact number of missing bags will be known after an inventory at the end of the day,” he said.
Saiful said the warehouse had 739 bags of fertiliser in stock that morning, adding that more than 300 bags of urea had been sold on August 31.
“There was no shortage of fertiliser. People started creating disorder on their own. We went to call the police and administration officials, and during that time part of the fence and the door were broken,” he said.
Rowmari Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Mahbubul Alam Basunia said there was no fertiliser shortage in the upazila.
“Farmers will face no problems if they collect fertiliser patiently. From Tuesday, fertiliser will also be sold in the open market to help keep the situation normal and dispel rumours of a shortage,” he said.
Rowmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mahbubul Hasan also denied reports of looting.
“The information that fertiliser bags were looted is not correct. I personally visited several dealer points to monitor the situation. Some disorder occurred at one sales centre, but law enforcement personnel later brought the situation under control. Farmers bought fertiliser in queues and returned home,” he said.
The UNO added that the administration would discuss whether fertiliser could later be sold through retailers at government-fixed prices.
