Fertiliser crunch sparks unrest in Kurigram

KURIGRAM, Sept 23: Fertiliser has become a source of growing tension in Kurigram, where farmers are queuing for hours, confronting dealers and even taking to the streets as supplies fall short of their requirements during the peak cultivation season.

Clashes, road blockades and confrontations have been reported in several parts of the district in recent weeks, exposing growing frustration among farmers struggling to secure urea.

In Roumari, agitated farmers allegedly broke into a dealer’s warehouse and took away more than 100 sacks of urea after waiting for hours for fertiliser.

Farmers queue for hours, block roads as officials blame surge in demand 

The incident took place at the dealer point of Mita-Hasan Enterprise in the Mohila Collegepara area. Dealer Md Matiar Rahman said distribution was scheduled to begin at 9:30am, but he went to the upazila nirbahi officer seeking administrative assistance as tensions mounted. Farmers allegedly broke through the warehouse’s tin fencing and took away the fertiliser during his absence.

In Bhurungamari, farmers blocked a road and burned straw in protest after failing to receive fertiliser according to their requirements. Local administration officials later visited the spot and assured them of measures to address the situation.

Farmers in several areas said they were being given only about one-third of the fertiliser they needed. Some alleged that distribution against national identity cards was encouraging favouritism, while others demanded open-market sales or ward-based distribution.

Agriculture officials, however, said the district was not facing an actual shortage but acknowledged that demand had risen unusually.
Kurigram has avoided major flooding this year, leaving previously inundated low-lying and char lands available for cultivation and driving up demand for fertiliser.

The government has allocated an additional 1,000 tonnes of urea to the district beyond its regular September allocation. Kurigram received 4,644 tonnes in September, compared with 3,894 tonnes during the same month last year. It received 12,483 tonnes during July-September.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Abdullah Al Mamun said another 3,639 tonnes allocated for October had been allowed to be lifted in advance.

“There will be no shortage of fertiliser. Farmers can be assured that adequate supplies will also be available during the upcoming Rabi season,” he said.

District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath said BCIC allocated 500 tonnes on September 14 and the Agriculture Ministry another 500 tonnes on September 17.

At a September 20 meeting, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam urged agriculture officials to strengthen monitoring, noting that increased cultivation over the past three to four years should have been reflected in fertiliser demand assessments.

Meanwhile, the government on Wednesday approved the import of 155,000 tonnes of fertiliser from Canada, Russia and Saudi Arabia at a cost of Tk982.61 crore.

The imports include 115,000 tonnes of MOP from Canada and Russia and 40,000 tonnes of DAP from Saudi Arabia. The purchases will be financed from the agricultural subsidy budget.