According to local sources, on Tuesday night, Sanwar Munshi, a pesticide trader from Kamarjani Port, had brought 400 bags of urea fertilizer from outside the district and stored it in his shop. In the wake of such allegations, the Agriculture Department, led by Deputy Director of the District Agriculture Department Md. Asaduzzaman and Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Rakibul Alam, conducted a drive.

During the raid, during an interrogation regarding the illegal storage of urea fertilizer in Sanwar Munshi’s warehouse, a mob led by Sanwar Munshi’s younger brother Jahangir Alam attacked agricultural officials and journalists.

At that time, Deputy Director of Agriculture Department, Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, Somoy Television reporter Biplob Islam, Sohel Rana and 5 local journalists were insulted and detained. Later, Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Nazmus Shahadat Fahim and local Kamarjani Union Parishad Chairman Matiar Rahman went to control the situation.

Local Union Parishad Chairman Matiar Rahman said, “The incident of scuffle had already taken place before I reached the spot. Such an incident is not right at all.”

He further said, “Due to the cultivation of maize in our Kamarjani Union, there is always an increased demand for fertilizer. It is not possible to meet everyone’s needs with fertilizer from the designated dealer. That is why fertilizer was probably brought from outside. However, it was not right to bring these fertilizers illegally.”

Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Nazmus Shahadat Fahim said, “The situation was brought under control after I left. What happened to the agricultural officials and journalists was not right at all. Sanwar Munshi, a businessman who was illegally stockpiling fertilizer, was fined Tk 5,000 and 150 bags of fertilizer were seized through a mobile court. These fertilizers will be sold to farmers at the fixed price tomorrow.”