Nageshwari (Kurigram) Correspondent:

Tension over an alleged shortage of fertiliser gripped Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram on Friday as hundreds of farmers blocked a road and confined a sub-assistant agriculture officer and dealer staff at a fertiliser distribution point.

The protest took place from around 7:00am to noon in front of M/s Bhai Bhai Traders, a BCIC fertiliser dealer in Ballaverkhas union.

Farmers said anxiety over fertiliser shortages has been growing across Kurigram, with similar incidents recently reported in Bhurungamari, Roumari and Rajibpur upazilas.

They said demand for fertiliser has increased with the cultivation of Aman rice, brinjal and various vegetables during the Rabi season, but farmers have not been receiving supplies according to their needs since the beginning of the season.

On hearing that fertiliser would be distributed at Bhai Bhai Traders on Friday morning, several hundred farmers gathered at the dealer point. Sub-assistant agriculture officer Rafiqul Islam was also present there.

According to the protesting farmers, shortly after distribution began, they were told that the allocated fertiliser had run out.

Angered by the announcement, the farmers blocked the road and began demonstrating. They allegedly confined the sub-assistant agriculture officer and people working for the dealer inside the warehouse by locking the door from outside.

The protesters also placed tree trunks on the road and staged a sit-in.

Police, members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) later went to the spot and rescued those confined inside the warehouse.

Farmer Omar Faruk said farmers in Berubari, Bamondanga and Ramkhana unions had staged protests on September 14 after failing to obtain fertiliser.

“Although the UNO assured us that the crisis would be resolved, we are still not getting enough fertiliser. Rather, the shortage appears to be worsening,” he said.

Mojibor, a farmer from Gabtala village, said the shortage was creating serious problems for cultivation.

“Farming has become difficult because of the fertiliser shortage. Even after facing a lot of harassment, we cannot get fertiliser. That is why we all blocked the road,” he said.

Another farmer from the same village, Abdus Salam, said farmers had been visiting dealers for days without success.

“When we go to the dealer, they say there is no fertiliser. I have been coming here for many days. Today I stood in the queue, but later we were told that the fertiliser had run out,” he said.

“If agriculture officials say there is no shortage, then why are we not getting fertiliser?” he asked.

Khairul Islam, sub-dealer at the distribution point, declined to comment on the matter. Sub-assistant agriculture officer Rafiqul Islam could not be reached by phone.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Shahriar Hossain disputed the farmers’ claim of an overall shortage, saying there were adequate stocks of fertiliser in the upazila.

“Fertiliser was scheduled to be distributed from two points today. The stock at one point ran out, and farmers, unable to get fertiliser there, confined the sub-assistant agriculture officer,” he said.

“We are trying to supply fertiliser to the farmers according to their demand from another distribution point,” he added.

UNO Mohammad Alauddin said the farmers had blocked the road for some time after many people gathered at the same time to collect fertiliser but failed to obtain it.

“The situation arose because many farmers came together to collect fertiliser and could not get it. We explained the situation to them. Everyone will receive fertiliser in phases,” he said.

The UNO also warned that action would be taken against the sub-assistant agriculture officer and the dealer if any irregularities were found in the distribution process.

The latest incident is part of a series of disputes over fertiliser distribution in Kurigram in recent weeks.

Just two days ago, local farmers were accused of looting fertiliser from a warehouse in Rajibpur upazila. Tensions escalated when the dealer allegedly attempted to beat the agitated farmers with sticks. Police later intervened and brought the situation under control.

On August 23, frustrated farmers allegedly looted a fertiliser warehouse in Shilkhuri union of Bhurungamari after failing to obtain fertiliser. An investigation subsequently found evidence of negligence by the dealer, according to local sources.

Fifteen days later, another group of farmers allegedly broke into a warehouse in Roumari and took away fertiliser. On the same day, police and BGB personnel had to be deployed at another dealer point to bring the situation under control.