Fertiliser distribution ends before 8am, agriculture officer confined

Farmers of Ballabharkhas union under Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram staged a protest by blocking the road demanding fertiliser. At that time they confined Assistant Agriculture Officer and Block Supervisor Rafiqul Islam, who was in charge of fertiliser distribution, in a dealer’s warehouse.

This situation was created centering the distribution of additional allocation of fertiliser at Gabtala Bazar of Ballabharkhas union around 8am on Friday (September 18). About four and a half hours later Nageshwari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Alauddin rescued him under police security.

Locals informed that fertiliser was supposed to be distributed among the farmers from the warehouse of the dealer named ‘Bhai Bhai Machineries’ of Gabtala Bazar from 8am on Friday. However, the dealer started distributing fertiliser at dawn. The allocated fertiliser finished before 8am. Not getting fertiliser at the scheduled time the angry farmers confined Rafiqul Islam inside the warehouse.

At one stage the farmers stopped the movement of vehicles by throwing tree trunks on the Madarganj-Bhurungamari road demanding fertiliser. Police were deployed in front of the warehouse to control the situation.

Around 12pm Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Alauddin went to the spot and tried to calm the farmers. Later Rafiqul Islam was brought out of the warehouse under police security and taken away in the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s car.

Rafiqul Islam said 80 bags of fertiliser were distributed from the dealer’s warehouse. Distribution started at 7:30am and according to his claim the distribution ended smoothly. However, after the end of distribution several hundred farmers came there and heated up the situation.

Officer-in-Charge of Kochakata Police Station Arpan Kumar said several farmers had blocked the road demanding fertiliser. Later the blockade was withdrawn under police intervention. However, no unpleasant incident occurred.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Alauddin said after the end of the monthly allocation of fertiliser additional 160 bags of fertiliser were distributed at two points on Friday. Although the fertiliser was distributed smoothly, the situation was created as more farmers gathered compared to the demand.

On the matter of distributing fertiliser through ward-based retail sellers he said earlier there were 45 dealers in the upazila but currently there are 30. If new dealers are appointed the opportunity will be created to distribute fertiliser at more dealer points.

Talking to the farmers he said as the reason for the increase in fertiliser demand that as there was no flood this time cultivation has taken place even on many low lands of the char areas. As a result the demand for fertiliser has increased. The higher authorities have been informed of the matter and a request has been made for more fertiliser allocation. He also informed that additional fertiliser will be given if needed.