Rising tensions surrounding fertiliser distribution across Kurigram district spilled over into violent unrest on Monday, 7 September, as desperate farmers broke into a licensed dealership warehouse in Roumari Upazila and carried off more than a hundred sacks of urea. The chaotic scene follows similar recent disruptions in the neighbouring sub-districts of Bhurungamari and Nageshwari, highlighting growing anxieties among agricultural workers over supply management.
The incident occurred during the morning hours at M/S Mita-Hasan Enterprise, a registered dealership facility located in the Roumari Mohila College Para area under Sadar Union.
According to eyewitnesses and local residents, hundreds of farmers from Bandaber Union and surrounding villages began gathering outside the depot before dawn, queuing for hours in hopes of purchasing essential nutrients for their crops. Discontent mounted rapidly when distribution failed to begin as expected at 9:30 am. By 11:00 am, with neither the dealer, agricultural officers, nor police present to oversee proceedings, the restless crowd breached the warehouse’s corrugated tin fencing and doors. Eyewitness Zakir Hossain reported that frustrated farmers stormed the building, carrying away over a hundred bags of urea on their heads, while others loaded sacks onto auto-rickshaws and hand-drawn vans. Video footage capturing the chaotic scene circulated widely across social media platforms shortly thereafter.
The warehouse manager, Saiful Islam, explained that management had temporarily departed the premises to seek administrative assistance from the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) after crowds grew agitated. He clarified that the depot held 739 sacks of urea on Monday morning following a prior distribution of over 300 sacks on 31 August, insisting there was no actual shortage of stock. Islam noted that while a portion of the inventory was removed during the breach, several farmers later returned sacks, abandoned them along roadways out of apprehension, or voluntarily deposited payments. A complete inventory check is underway to establish total losses.
Local administrative officials, however, downplayed allegations of widespread looting. Roumari UNO Md Mahbubul Hasan stated that reports of mass plundering were inaccurate, describing the incident as a brief period of disorganisation at a single sales point. He maintained that law enforcement personnel arrived promptly to restore order, after which farmers purchased their allocations in an orderly queue. Hasan added that authorities are evaluating proposals to distribute fertilisers at government-fixed rates via retail vendors to streamline future sales.
Roumari Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Mahbubul Alam Basunia reiterated that the sub-district maintains adequate stockpiles. To dispel rumours and stabilize the distribution chain, open market sales (OMS) of fertiliser are scheduled to commence on Tuesday.
The confrontation in Roumari marks the second major breach of a fertiliser facility in Kurigram within weeks. On 23 August, angry farmers broke down the doors of a dealership warehouse in the Dholdanga Bazar area of Bhurungamari Upazila, seizing 197 sacks of urea amid allegations of artificial shortages and price gouging. The recurring unrest underscores persistent friction between farming communities and local supply networks during critical cultivation periods.
