Police have arrested two individuals and filed charges against dozens more following a violent protest over fertilizer distribution in Bhurungamari, Kurigram. The involvement of around 50 unidentified suspects in the official complaint has sparked widespread panic among local farmers, many of whom are fleeing their homes at night to escape potential arrest.
The unrest began on 7 September outside a licensed dealer’s warehouse near Shahid Mor on the Bhurungamari-Sonahat Land Port road, situated in Bangsonahat Union. Hundreds of farmers gathered to purchase essential fertilizers for their crops. Tensions escalated rapidly when smallholders were restricted to purchasing just 10 kilograms of fertilizer per person, despite making multiple visits to the depot. At the same time, allegations emerged that influential landholders were securing five to seven sacks of fertilizer through nepotism and illicit payments.
Enraged by the perceived corruption and distribution bottlenecks, the crowd blocked the regional highway using bamboo barricades and set fires on the road. Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Jabbar and his Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer rushed to the scene to pacify the demonstrators. However, a section of the crowd turned aggressive, trapping both officials and physically assaulting them. The officers were forced to seek refuge inside a nearby residential property until the Upazila Nirbahi Officer arrived to restore order with promises of fair retail distribution.
Following the assault, Abdul Jabbar filed a formal case at Bhurungamari Police Station, naming 11 primary suspects alongside 50 unidentified individuals. Police officers subsequently carried out raids and arrested two named defendants, which triggered a wave of fear across villages such as Gunaiyerkuti. Local farmers report spending their days laboring under the sun and their nights hiding in distant fields or neighboring communities to avoid nocturnal police sweeps.
Confirming the case, Officer-in-Charge of Bhurungamari Police Station, Azim Uddin, sought to reassure the farming community, stating that investigators are carefully reviewing video footage from the incident to isolate the actual perpetrators. He stressed that law enforcement agencies will not harass innocent agricultural workers, adding that raids are aimed solely at bringing those who obstructed public officials and instigated violence to justice.
