The Pirganj upazila administration in Rangpur has raided a godown at Kalsardara bazar in Ramnathpur union over allegations that fake fertiliser, pesticides and cattle bran were being made there, Samakal reports. The godown belongs to Maidul Islam Babu, proprietor of Messrs Mokhlesur Traders, and more than 1,126 sacks of material for making fertiliser and bran were found.
Officials seized assorted chemicals, granules made to look like fertiliser, counterfeit pesticides and fungicides, dye, brick rubble, sawdust, machinery and empty packets of several companies. Locals allege that at a nearby drying yard, wheat bran was being mixed with rice husk and sawdust and sold as cattle feed under well-known brand names such as Bashundhara and Mondol.
Earlier, the Sadullapur upazila administration, led by its UNO Rawjatul Jannat, raided the same man's factory at Ali Nagar Badurpur on the Sadullapur border, recovered fake fertiliser and equipment and sealed the premises. Sensing the Pirganj raid, Maidul Islam Babu and Alhaj Mokhlesur Rahman fled. Residents said they had believed a vermicompost (earthworm organic fertiliser) factory was being set up.
Upazila agriculture officer Sumon Ahmed said the seized materials will be sent to Rangpur for testing, which will show whether they are genuine or fake, though the initial assessment is that counterfeit products were being made. The factory has no legal approval, he said, and a case will be filed against those involved if the allegations are borne out.
Pirganj UNO Abdullah Al Bakiul Bari said operations have been stopped, legal proceedings are under way and the local chairman has been told to keep the godown locked. Farmers in the area, worried about crop losses from counterfeit fertiliser and pesticides, have demanded swift arrests and exemplary punishment. The report is by Samakal's Pirganj correspondent.
Photo: Rahat / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); a urea fertiliser factory at Palash, Narsingdi, for illustration
Source: Samakal
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