Over 600 sacks of fertiliser looted from Chatmohar warehouse

CHATMOHAR, PABNA, Nov 11: More than 600 sacks of fertiliser were looted from a dealer's warehouse during distribution at Saikola Bazar in Chatmohar Upazila of Pabna on Monday amid chaos among farmers.

The incident took place around 12:30pm at the warehouse of fertiliser dealer Pradip Kumar Pal.
Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam and Superintendent of Police Abu Ashraf visited the spot in the afternoon.

Around 2,000 to 3,000 farmers had been waiting in queues since early morning to collect fertiliser. As tensions escalated around noon, agitated farmers and locals broke into the warehouse and took away around 611 sacks of fertiliser.

On receiving the information, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khalid Hasan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Jahangir Alam Pramanik, Upazila Agriculture Officer Kuntala Ghosh, Officer-in-Charge of Chatmohar Police Station Oliur Rahman and a large number of police personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

According to locals, fertiliser distribution for Saikola Union had been underway at Pal's dealership since Monday morning. The warehouse had 1,181 sacks of urea, muriate of potash (MOP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP). Dealers had already issued 171 sales slips.

Fertiliser distribution was also taking place at two other dealer points in the area. However, after their stocks ran out, thousands of farmers gathered at Pal's dealership, putting pressure on the distribution process.

At one point, farmers became agitated, prompting the dealer to suspend distribution. Amid the ensuing disorder, people broke into the warehouse and took away the fertiliser.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Kuntala Ghosh said more than 600 sacks of fertiliser had been taken after the warehouse was broken into. "There is no shortage of fertiliser. The incident occurred amid unnecessary disorder," she said.

Chatmohar Police Station OC Oliur Rahman said police rushed to the spot immediately after receiving the information and brought the situation under control. Legal action was being taken over the incident, he added.

UNO Khalid Hasan also said there was no fertiliser shortage in the area. He said announcements had been made through loudspeakers, urging those who had taken the fertiliser to return it or pay the dealer an equivalent amount.

Legal action would be taken if the fertiliser or its equivalent value was not returned within the stipulated time, he added.