Farmers staged a road blockade in Shailkupa of Jhenaidah on Saturday morning, demanding the supply of chemical fertiliser. The protest took place at Garaganj Bazar after farmers said they were unable to obtain fertiliser from a local dealer, prompting them to block the Garaganj-Shailkupa regional road.
According to local farmers, they went to Shuvo Enterprise at Garaganj Old Bazar to collect fertiliser needed for their crops. However, they said representatives of the dealership told them that fertiliser would not be supplied. Frustrated by the refusal, a group of farmers took to the regional road and placed tree trunks across it, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The blockade continued for about an hour. During that time, vehicles travelling along the busy regional route were unable to pass, leaving passengers and drivers stranded on both sides of the road. The disruption also created temporary difficulties for people who rely on the route for regular travel and local transport.
News of the protest prompted officials from the upazila agriculture office to visit the spot. They spoke to the protesting farmers and took steps to arrange the supply of fertiliser. Once the distribution process began, the farmers agreed to withdraw their protest.
The tree trunks were subsequently removed from the road and traffic gradually returned to normal. The intervention by agriculture officials helped prevent the situation from escalating further.
The incident highlights the importance of timely access to agricultural inputs during the cropping season. Chemical fertilisers are widely used by farmers to support crop growth, and delays in obtaining them can cause concern, particularly when farmers have already invested money and labour in cultivation. Local availability therefore remains an important issue for growers who depend on dealers to obtain fertiliser through the regular distribution system.
An agriculture official said an unwanted situation had developed over the fertiliser issue, but steps were taken promptly after officials received information about the blockade. The immediate arrangement for supplying fertiliser helped resolve the dispute and allowed the road to reopen.
Although the protest lasted for only around an hour, it caused temporary disruption to public movement and reflected the frustration among farmers over access to essential agricultural supplies. Ensuring that fertiliser reaches farmers through the authorised distribution network on time could help reduce the likelihood of similar disputes and prevent interruptions to transport on important local roads.
