Farmers take away 202 bags of fertilizer after breaking warehouse door in Kurigram

Angry farmers have taken away 202 bags of urea fertilizer after breaking the door of a warehouse in Bhurungamari of Kurigram over allegations of not getting fertilizer as per demand. Later 60 farmers returned 60 bags of fertilizer following police intervention. Efforts are underway to recover the remaining fertilizer.

The incident took place around noon at the dealer point of Messrs Shah Amanat Enterprise in Dhaldanga Bazar of Shilkhuri Union of the upazila on Sunday (August 23).

Local people said a fertilizer crisis has been going on in the area for the past three days during the peak season of transplanted Aman. Getting the news that fertilizer would be distributed on Sunday, a large number of farmers gathered at the dealer point in Dhaldanga Bazar from the morning. Anger built up among the farmers as the door of the dealer point was not opened even after a long wait.

At one stage the agitated farmers broke the door of the warehouse, entered inside and took away fertilizer. They took away 202 bags out of the 340 bags of urea fertilizer in the warehouse, amounting to about 10,000 kg.

The farmers alleged that although the owner of Shah Amanat Enterprise, Taifur Rahman Mukul, received an allocation of 1,320 bags of urea fertilizer, he delayed in supplying it on time. As a result they faced extreme hardship for not getting fertilizer at the time of need during the Aman season.

However, dealer Taifur Rahman Mukul denied the allegation and said he had lifted 340 bags of fertilizer as per the latest DO. A large number of farmers gathered at the time of fertilizer distribution on Sunday. The farmers broke the door of the warehouse and took away fertilizer before the situation could be controlled.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhurungamari Police Station Md Azimuddin said although the demand for fertilizer in that union is about 4,000 bags, less than that has been lifted. The farmers took away fertilizer from the warehouse out of the fear of not getting it.

He said police went to the scene after getting the information and brought the situation under control. Later, following police efforts, 60 farmers returned 60 bags of fertilizer by 4pm. Efforts are underway to recover the remaining fertilizer.

Concerned persons said the actual cause of the fertilizer crisis and the authenticity of the farmers’ allegations against the dealer are being examined.