Farmers demanding fertiliser block road at Bhurungamari

BHURUNGAMARI, KURIGRAM, Sept 4: Farmers blocked a road and staged a protest in Bhurungamari Upazila of Kurigram on Wednesday morning, demanding fertiliser.

The situation was brought under control after the local administration arranged fertiliser distribution in the presence of police, Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel.

The incident occurred at Sonahat Camp intersection, where BCIC fertiliser dealer Janardan Traders began distributing 300 sacks of urea as announced earlier.

As the number of farmers increased at the site, some of them went to Rakibul Traders, a BADC-approved fertiliser dealer in nearby Sonahat Bazar, and demanded that fertiliser be sold there.

However, the dealer told them that he had not been instructed to distribute fertiliser on Wednesday.

Agitated farmers then blocked the Sonahat Land Port Road in front of the dealer's outlet and staged a demonstration, causing long tailbacks on both sides of the road.

On receiving the news, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amrit Deb Nath, Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Abdullah Al Mamun, Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Jabbar and Officer-in-Charge Azim Uddin went to the spot.

Hayrat Ali, proprietor of Rakibul Traders, said he had collected 235 sacks of DAP, 95 sacks of TSP and 90 sacks of MOP fertiliser under the latest delivery order.

“Fertiliser distribution was not scheduled at my outlet on Wednesday. But when several hundred farmers became agitated, fertiliser was distributed with the assistance of the administration,” he said.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Jabbar said Wednesday was not scheduled as a fertiliser distribution day at Rakibul Traders.

“However, as the farmers became disorderly, fertiliser was distributed at both dealer points in the presence of the administration,” he said.

UNO Amrit Deb Nath said he rushed to the spot after receiving the news.

“Fertiliser was distributed among the farmers in the presence of police, BGB and Ansar personnel. The situation is now calm. There is no fertiliser shortage in the upazila,” he said.