Severe fertilizer shortage in Kurigram: Police harassment to suppress farmer’s protests leaves villages without men

❐ District Correspondent

A government official was humiliated in the face of a farmer revolt over fertilizer shortages. Immediately after that, the police were called in to suppress the rebellion. Now the entire village is devoid of men due to fear of arrest.

The farmers’ revolt in Bhurungamari, Kurigram, which was sparked by the lack of fertilizer as per demand and the nepotism, corruption and irregularities of dealers, has now taken the form of public discontent.

On September 7, hundreds of farmers protested in front of a dealer’s warehouse in the Shahid More area of ​​the Bhurungamari-Sonahat Land Port Road in Bangasonahat Union of the upazila after not receiving fertilizer.

They alleged that although it was announced that only 10 kg of fertilizer would be provided to everyone, sacks of fertilizer were being given to influential people in exchange for money. Angry farmers, who had not received the fertilizer despite going around for days, at one stage blocked the road by throwing bamboo and burning wood.

Upon receiving the news, Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Jabbar and Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer (BS) reached the spot but the situation went out of control. Some overzealous people from the heated crowd attacked the government officials. They were forced to take shelter in a nearby house. Later, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) reached the spot and brought the situation under control by miking.

The Upazila Agriculture Officer has filed a case with Bhurungamari Police Station, naming 11 farmers and 50 unidentified farmers as accused. Police have already arrested two of the accused named in the complaint.

However, the presence of ‘fifty unknown’ accused in the case has created deep panic in the entire area. Ordinary farmers are unable to sleep at home at night, and after working in the fields all day, they are fleeing to relatives’ houses or bushes at night to avoid arrest.

Although the Upazila Agriculture Officer refused to give details about the incident, Bhurungamari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azim Uddin said the case was filed on charges of obstruction of government work and assault. However, he urged ordinary farmers not to panic as only the real culprits would be arrested after reviewing the video footage.