Fertiliser crisis boils over in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat

Farmers demanding fertiliser vandalised the warehouse of a fertiliser dealer at Kochakata Bazar in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram on Sunday after the dealer delayed distribution.

In another incident, farmers blocked a road at Milan Bazar in Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram after failing to get fertiliser. Farmers in Lalmonirhat also blocked a highway, demanding adequate fertiliser supplies and an end to what they described as a “fertiliser syndicate.”

Warehouse vandalised in Nageshwari
Local farmers said they began gathering in front of Kashem Traders at Kochakata Bazar around 7:00am on Sunday to collect fertiliser.

However, even after 8:00am, representatives of the dealer had not arrived. This created frustration among the farmers waiting outside the shop.

By around 9:00am, nearly 200 farmers had gathered at the spot. As tensions escalated, the farmers began shouting and protesting. At one point, several of them vandalised the corrugated-tin fencing around the dealer’s warehouse.

Local farmers said no one was able to take fertiliser from the warehouse because other farmers intervened and prevented them from doing so.

Several farmers said the warehouse had fertiliser in stock, but the dealer’s representatives failed to arrive for a long time, causing the situation to become tense. Pushing and shoving also broke out among the farmers, after which some of them damaged the tin fencing.

Arpan Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Kochakata Police Station, told The New Nation that there was sufficient fertiliser in the dealer’s warehouse.

He said the farmers became angry because the dealer arrived late.

“During pushing and shoving among 150 to 200 people, the tin sheets of the warehouse fencing were damaged,” he said.

Police later went to the scene and brought the situation under control. Fertiliser was subsequently distributed among the farmers, and the situation is currently normal, the OC said.

Farmers block road in Bhurungamari
Meanwhile, farmers blocked a road at Milan Bazar in Bholadia Union of Bhurungamari upazila after failing to obtain fertiliser.

The blockade brought traffic on the road to a halt for some time. Police went to the spot after receiving information about the protest.

Later, Aminul Haque Tarek, assistant commissioner (land) of Bhurungamari, went to the scene and spoke with the protesting farmers. The situation subsequently returned to normal.

Tarek told that farmers from surrounding areas had gathered at Milan Bazar after hearing that fertiliser would be distributed from a warehouse there.

As a large number of farmers gathered, traffic on the road was disrupted.

He said the warehouse had 20 tonnes of fertiliser. However, it was not possible to distribute the fertiliser on Sunday because of the large number of farmers present.

“Additional fertiliser will be supplied tomorrow and distributed among the farmers together,” he said.
Highway blocked in Lalmonirhat
In Lalmonirhat, farmers blocked the Lalmonirhat-Patgram-Burimari highway by placing tree trunks on the road around 11:00am on Sunday.
The blockade was staged in the Mahendranagar Bazar area of Lalmonirhat Sadar. Traffic on the highway remained suspended for about an hour.

The protesting farmers demanded that an adequate supply of fertiliser be ensured and that the alleged “fertiliser syndicate” be dismantled.

The blockade was later withdrawn following intervention by the district administration and an assurance that fertiliser supplies would be ensured.

The farmers alleged that they had been unable to apply fertiliser to their fields on time during the ongoing Aman cultivation season because they were not receiving fertiliser according to their needs.

They said they were forced to take to the national highway to demand regular fertiliser supplies and an end to any artificial shortage or alleged syndication involving fertiliser.

After being informed of the blockade, Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rashedul Haque Pradhan, Superintendent of Police Md Asaduzzaman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mononita Das and Mahendranagar Union Parishad Chairman Md Abdul Majid Mondol quickly went to the scene.

They assured the protesting farmers that positive steps would be taken to address their demands. Following the assurances, the farmers withdrew from the highway and traffic resumed.

DC says no major fertiliser shortage
Speaking to the farmers at the scene, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rashedul Haque Pradhan said there was essentially no fertiliser shortage in Lalmonirhat.

He said a temporary misunderstanding had arisen after a large number of farmers from Lalmonirhat Sadar went to Mahendranagar after hearing that fertiliser was being distributed in a union in Hatibandha.
The deputy commissioner also warned that strict administrative action would be taken if any specific allegation of an artificial fertiliser shortage was found to be true.

“If any specific complaint of an artificial fertiliser shortage is received, the matter will be investigated and immediate and strict administrative action will be taken,” he said.

The incidents come amid growing concerns among farmers over fertiliser availability during the Aman cultivation season.