RAJSHAHI, Sept 08 (V7N) — More than 300 farmers blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi on Monday, demanding adequate fertiliser supplies and an end to alleged artificial shortages and overpricing in the retail market.

The blockade brought traffic on the busy highway to a standstill for around one and a half hours. The farmers withdrew the blockade after receiving assurances from the local administration that their demands would be addressed.

The farmers began demonstrating at around 10:00am on Monday (September 7), taking positions on the highway in the Baneshwar Bazar area.

Local farmers said the current period is crucial for applying fertiliser to transplanted Aman paddy. However, they alleged that fertiliser was not available in sufficient quantities at local dealers' shops.

They further alleged that an artificial shortage had been created and fertiliser was being sold at higher-than-government-fixed prices in the open market.

The farmers said they had waited for a long time outside fertiliser shops in Baneshwar Bazar in the morning but failed to obtain the fertiliser they needed. Frustrated by the situation, they brought out a protest procession and took positions on the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway.

Abdur Rahim, one of the protesting farmers, said he had been visiting Baneshwar Bazar for three consecutive days but had been unable to purchase fertiliser.

“Unless we can obtain fertiliser at the government-fixed price, we will face serious difficulties in cultivating Aman paddy,” he said.

Another farmer, Rafiqul Islam, said farmers had been forced to take to the highway after standing in queues since early morning without receiving fertiliser.

He called for an investigation into alleged irregularities and syndication in fertiliser distribution and demanded action against those responsible.

The blockade left hundreds of buses, lorries and other vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway, causing a long tailback and considerable suffering for commuters.

Upon receiving the news, officials from the upazila administration and police arrived at the scene at around 11:00am and held discussions with the protesting farmers.

Puthia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Liaquat Salman Charchak assured the farmers that action would be taken against dishonest fertiliser traders and that fertiliser would be supplied quickly at the stipulated price.

Following the assurance, the farmers withdrew the blockade. Traffic on the highway began returning to normal after around 11:30am.

However, local fertiliser dealer and president of the Rajshahi District Fertiliser and Pesticide Committee Osman Ali rejected the farmers' allegations.

He said there was no shortage of urea fertiliser in the area and claimed that he had 1,040 sacks, or around 51 metric tonnes, of urea in stock.

He added that his stock also included 1.5 tonnes of DAP, around one tonne of MOP and 1.65 tonnes of TSP fertiliser.

However, he said stocks of fertilisers other than urea had declined towards the end of the month.

The farmers have demanded that urea, DAP, TSP and other fertilisers be supplied in accordance with allocations and made available at fair prices.

They also called for investigations into any allegations of artificial shortages or overpricing and demanded legal action against those found responsible.

END/MRA/SMA/