Dealer Claimed All Fertiliser Was Distributed; 1,500 Sacks Found in Warehouse and Seized in Damurhuda
The upazila agriculture department has seized 1,500 sacks of illegally stockpiled fertiliser from a dealer's warehouse in Damurhuda, Chuadanga. The dealer had earlier said the government-allocated fertiliser had already been distributed among farmers — yet the warehouse was found holding a huge stockpile.
The raid was carried out at around 8 pm on Saturday (October 24) at the warehouse of Naeem Automobile and Seed Store at New Hauli village, near Hauli Mor in the upazila. After the raid, the warehouse was sealed and a regular case was filed over the incident.
According to the upazila agriculture office, the warehouse owner, Naeem Uddin, is the son of the late Mofizul Islam, also known as Mofi, of Damurhuda upazila town. He is a BADC fertiliser dealer.
Sources said Naeem Uddin had informed the authorities that the government fertiliser allocated for this month had been distributed among farmers. Acting on information that a large quantity of fertiliser was still stored in the warehouse, the upazila agriculture department carried out the raid.
In the raid led by Damurhuda Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishna Sarkar, officers seized 370 sacks of TSP, 1,120 sacks of DAP and 10 sacks of MOP fertiliser. In total, the seized fertiliser amounted to 1,500 sacks.
On hearing of the raid, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md Sajjad Hossain went to the spot. He sealed the warehouse and ordered that a regular case be filed over the incident.
Following the order, Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishna Sarkar filed the case as plaintiff at Damurhuda Model Police Station.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishna Sarkar said: 'Acting on information that fertiliser was stored in the warehouse, we carried out a raid and seized TSP, DAP and MOP fertiliser. The warehouse has been sealed and a regular case has been filed over the incident.'
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Sajjad Hossain also confirmed the seizure of 1,500 sacks of fertiliser from the warehouse, the sealing of the warehouse and the filing of the case.
Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Saiful Islam, Damurhuda Model Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Siyabul Islam, SI Uttam Kumar and other police members assisted in the raid.
Questions have now been raised over how such a large stock of government fertiliser — fertiliser that was supposed to reach farmers — remained in the warehouse. The case investigation is expected to clarify how the fertiliser stayed there despite the claim that distribution was complete.
