Farmers block road demanding fertiliser in Kurigram

Local farmers blocked the Madarganj-Bhurungamari road for four and a half hours in Ballabherkhas union of Nageshwari in Kurigram after failing to collect fertilizer from a dealer point in Gabtala Bazar area on Friday.
During the agitation, they also confined a deputy assistant agriculture officer in a fertiliser warehouse.
According to locals, fertiliser was scheduled to be distributed from Bhai Bhai Machineries, a dealer point, from 8am. However, farmers arriving at the scheduled time found that the dealer had already completed the distribution.
Farmers subsequently confined Rafiqul Islam, deputy assistant agriculture officer of the upazila agriculture office, inside the warehouse and blocked the road by placing tree trunks across it.
Police were deployed at the warehouse to ensure the officer's safety. Around noon, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Alauddin went to the spot and tried to control the situation. Later, Rafiqul Islam was escorted out of the warehouse under police protection. Talking to the Daily Sun, Rafiqul said 80 sacks of fertiliser were distributed at the dealer point and that distribution began at around 7:30am and continued smoothly. “After the distribution was completed, hundreds of farmers gathered and the situation became tense,” he said.
Arpan Kumar, officer-in-charge of Kachakata Police Station, said some farmers had blocked the road demanding fertiliser. “They were later removed with police intervention. No untoward incident occurred,” he said.
UNO Mohammad Alauddin said the fertilizer distribution had initially proceeded smoothly, but the situation became tense after more farmers gathered than the available supply could meet. “The farmers were assured that they would be provided with fertiliser. Arrangements have also been made to send a requisition for additional allocation,” he said.