A chaotic situation arose on the last day of the National Fruit Fair on Saturday, 21 June. As soon as the fair ended, buyers and visitors carried off fruit from various stalls, and a video of the scene went viral on social media.

The video shows visitors suddenly starting to loot at the fair, held on the open ground in front of the Krishibid Institution in Farmgate. Several stalls were damaged. Large fruit displays in front of the main gate were looted in moments, with people taking fruit however they could.

According to eyewitnesses, although the formal closing programme ended after 7pm on Saturday, many visitors were still on the fairground. While looking at the local and foreign fruits displayed in front of the stage and exhibition stalls, some people suddenly stepped forward and began taking fruit, and other visitors then rushed in to join the looting.

One video shows more than a hundred people crowding to grab fruit from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) stall. Fruits arranged on a water-lily-shaped display in front of the fair are also seen being looted. Officials working at the fair and the law enforcers present (Ansar) tried to stop them, but no one paid any heed.

An official at the DAE stall said: "Our stall had a collection of many species of fruit, arranged for research and exhibition. Yet a group of people suddenly came and took everything. We tried to stop them, but no one listened."

A staff member responsible for managing the event said the presence of law enforcers had dwindled at the end of the fair while visitor numbers were still very high, and some people took the opportunity to start looting.

The Ministry of Agriculture organised the three-day fruit fair from 19 to 21 June. Those involved said its main aim was to showcase local fruit, raise awareness and encourage interest in fruit farming.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.