The upazila administration in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, seized 23 sacks of fertiliser from a van in a late-night raid. The operation took place at around 1am on Thursday night in Tupkarchar village of Merurchar union. The van driver fled on noticing the officials, so no one was detained.

According to the upazila administration, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Murad Hossain led the raid in the Tupkarchar area acting on a tip-off. A van was stopped and searched, and 23 sacks of fertiliser were found. The seized fertiliser was later taken to Bakshiganj police station.

Officials are now examining whether the fertiliser was from government allocation or private stock, where it had been brought from and where it was being taken.

UNO Murad Hossain said efforts were under way to establish the origin and destination of the consignment, and that legal action would be taken.

Fertiliser moved by van in the middle of the night at the height of the application season points to the risk of dealer-level allocations being diverted, a risk that bears directly on whether smallholders can count on getting their share.

Source: Prothom Alo