Farmers and Fertilizer Retailers Form Front in Thakurgaon

Farmers and fertilizer retailers in Thakurgaon’s Baliadangi upazila have staged a human chain, demanding the implementation of a government circular issued in 2023 that mandates Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) dealers to allocate 60 percent of their fertilizer supply to registered retail traders.

According to the circular, proper enforcement would “ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supply,” allowing farmers to “purchase fertilizers from retailers at their convenience.”

The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Upazila Fertilizer Dealers’ Association, took place at the Baliadangi intersection on Sunday afternoon, October 12. During the hour-long protest, participants—including local farmers and registered retail traders—called for immediate allocation of fertilizer to ID card-holding retailers.

Speakers at the event, including Subul Islam, President of the Dealers’ Association of Bangladesh, Baliadangi Unit, said, “This season, farmers are preparing to cultivate crops like potatoes, wheat, and maize. They usually buy fertilizers from the open market, but a severe shortage has made this impossible.”

They further warned that if the administration fails to ensure adequate fertilizer allocation at the retail level, they would “lay siege to the UNO and Agriculture Office.”

Speakers emphasized, “If fertilizers are supplied through registered retail sellers, genuine farmers will not face harassment.” They urged the government to “immediately ensure fertilizer supply to registered retailers.”

Among others, retail fertilizer sellers Yakub Ali, Mizanur Rahman, Mr. Nasirul, and farmer Sadekul addressed the gathering. Journalists Harunur Rashid and Hasan Ali also expressed solidarity and spoke in support of the demonstrators.