Fertiliser upset erupts in Kurigram

Farmers’ growing difficulties in securing fertiliser have highlighted concerns over the need for better management, timely distribution and closer monitoring of dealer points after more than 200 farmers broke open a fertiliser warehouse in Bhurungamari and took away 225 sacks on Sunday.

The incident occurred at Messrs Shah Amanat Dealer Point in Shilkhuri Union of Bhurungamari upazila, where farmers had gathered since the morning to buy fertiliser.

They alleged that the dealer had been slow to distribute supplies despite receiving an allocation.

According to local residents, dealer Taifur Rahman Mukul, owner of Shah Amanat Traders, had received an allocation of 1,320 sacks of fertiliser, of which 340 sacks were kept in the warehouse.

More than 200 farmers waited at the dealer point for a long time on Sunday, but the outlet did not open.

Frustrated by the delay and fearing that they would not receive the fertiliser they needed for their crops, the farmers broke open the warehouse door and took 202 sacks of urea and 23 sacks of potash.

Police later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, preventing farmers from taking away the remaining stock.

Following intervention by the police and local administration, 50 farmers returned 58 sacks of fertiliser.

Officials said efforts were continuing to recover the remaining stock and that farmers were returning the fertiliser in phases.

Bhurungamari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Azim Uddin said demand for fertiliser in the union was around 4,000 sacks, against a total allocation of only 1,320 sacks.

He said the amount actually supplied for distribution was even lower, contributing to farmers’ fears that they would not receive fertiliser.

“Farmers took the fertiliser from the warehouse out of fear of not getting it,” he said.

After receiving the information, police intervened and stopped the looting. Police, the upazila administration and the agriculture office subsequently recovered 58 sacks from the farmers, while efforts were being made to retrieve the rest.

Bhurungamari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Amrit Kumar Debnath said the administration was working with the district agriculture authorities, the upazila agriculture office and the Circle Police Officer to recover the fertiliser.

“We hope the farmers will return the fertiliser peacefully,” he said.

The incident has also brought renewed attention to the importance of ensuring that allocated fertiliser reaches farmers promptly and transparently, particularly during periods of high demand.

Effective monitoring of dealer stocks and distribution could help prevent shortages, panic among farmers and disputes over access to essential agricultural inputs.

For farmers dependent on timely fertiliser supplies for crop production, the episode underlines the need for a distribution system that matches local demand, keeps dealers accountable and ensures that available stocks are sold to farmers without unnecessary delays.