Farmers storm fertilizer warehouse in Kurigram over supply shortages

BHURUNGAMARI, Bangladesh — Farmers in the Bhurungamari Upazila of Kurigram district broke into a fertilizer warehouse on Sunday morning, seizing 197 sacks of urea following widespread frustration over persistent supply shortages.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. in the Shilkuri Union. According to local police and agricultural officials, the raid was triggered by a deepening fertilizer crisis that has left farmers unable to secure necessary supplies for the ongoing Aman paddy season.

Authorities reported that 33 farmers voluntarily returned 33 sacks of fertilizer following police intervention. Efforts to recover the remaining 164 sacks are currently underway.

Official records from the Upazila Agriculture Office indicate that Shah Amanat Traders, a designated dealership based in Tilai Union, had been allotted 1,320 sacks of urea for the Shilkuri Union. Of this allocation, the dealer had reportedly collected 340 sacks and stored them in the warehouse. Farmers had repeatedly visited the facility only to be turned away, fueling growing public unrest.

Bhurungamari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azim Uddin stated that the region is facing a severe supply deficit, with a local demand of approximately 4,000 sacks against an allocation of only 1,320. “Farmers, fearing they would be left without fertilizer, broke into the warehouse to secure their supplies,” Uddin said, noting that police arrived shortly after the breach to restore order.

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Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Jabbar confirmed that approximately 200 sacks were removed by the crowd and that the incident has been reported to higher authorities.

Several farmers alleged that while the warehouse remained empty, fertilizer was readily available on the open market at significantly higher prices. This disparity, they claimed, drove them to collective action.

Efforts to reach Taifur Rahman, the proprietor of Shah Amanat Traders, for comment were unsuccessful as he could not be reached via telephone.

Amrit Debnath, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) for Bhurungamari, stated that local administration and police are working to recover the remaining stock. “We are in the process of recovering the missing sacks and I am personally visiting the site to assess the situation,” Debnath said.