Farmers in Kaliganj Upazila of Lalmonirhat blocked Lalmonirhat–Burimari highway on Thursday morning demanding fertiliser amid an intensifying supply shortage in one of the district’s major maize-producing areas.
They gathered in front of the godown of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation authorised dealer, Messrs Saiful Islam, at Bhullarahat Bazar in Votmari union where the blockade was staged.
Farmers said the district’s signature crop maize has already entered the cultivation phase but fertiliser has become increasingly scarce. Kaliganj has the highest maize cultivation in the district, yet growers in Votmari union have been unable to collect fertiliser from dealer points for several days.
The sales point announced that fertiliser would be distributed on Thursday morning, prompting farmers to queue from dawn, forming a long line within minutes.
The centre was suddenly closed before all farmers could receive fertiliser, triggering anger and prompting them to block the highway, causing severe congestion as hundreds of vehicles became stranded on both sides.
Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamima Akhter Jahan, upazila agriculture officer Tushar Kanti and law enforcement personnel rushed to the scene.
The situation was brought under control after nearly two hours when officials assured farmers that adequate fertiliser would be supplied, leading them to withdraw the blockade.
Farmer Samad of Bhullarahat village said he cultivated maize on one acre of land and urgently needed fertiliser.
He said he had been trying for days but kept returning empty-handed, including on Thursday.
Farmers alleged that the dealer was not selling fertiliser at the official point and was instead offloading it elsewhere at higher prices.
They said it was the peak fertilising period for maize, potatoes, onions and tobacco and that any further delays would jeopardise maize cultivation this season.
Owner of Messrs Saiful Islam, Saiful, said fertiliser is not sold without the presence of agriculture officials and that shop management was handled by his sons, who were better informed about what occurred.
Kaliganj upazila seed and fertiliser monitoring committee president and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamima Akhter Jahan said the season for potato, maize, tobacco, mustard, wheat and winter vegetables had brought farmers to the sales point simultaneously, creating temporary pressure amid limited stocks.
“Coordination was under way with farmer committees and I hope that the situation would normalise next week,” UNO Shamima Akhter Jahan said.
