The Pabna district administration has formed a three-member investigation committee to probe the alleged commotion, vandalism, and looting of 611 bags of fertilizer in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna.
A formal office order establishing the probe panel was issued on Monday (November 9) afternoon, signed by Pabna Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam.
Additional District Magistrate Liton Dhali has been appointed as the convener of the committee. The other two members are Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Sakhawat Hossain and Additional Deputy Director (Crops) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Pabna, Lutfar Rahman.
According to the official order, an untoward incident occurred during fertilizer distribution at a warehouse in Chaikola Bazaar under Chaikola union of Chatmohar upazila. The committee was constituted to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the occurrence. The panel has been instructed to inspect the spot in person and submit an investigation report containing clear findings and recommendations to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. However, a specific deadline for submitting the report was not mentioned in the order.
Earlier on Monday (November 9) afternoon, the incident took place in front of the Chaikola Union Parishad building at a tin-shed structure used for government fertilizer distribution.
Read nextBanned Awami League Leader Masud Rana Arrested in Sherpur Under Special Powers ActLocals and eyewitnesses reported that dealer Pradip Kumar Pal was distributing government-allocated fertilizer from the room. An altercation broke out among farmers standing in line over delays in receiving their allocation. Enraged by the situation, an excited crowd vandalized the dealer's tin-shed room, during which a substantial quantity of fertilizer was allegedly looted.
Subsequent accounting revealed that out of a total stock of 1,181 bags of fertilizer present at the warehouse, 170 bags had been legally distributed, 400 bags remained in stock, and 611 bags were claimed to have been looted.
Upon receiving the information, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khalid Hasan, DAE Deputy Director Jahangir Alam Pramanik, Upazila Agriculture Officer Kuntala Ghosh, and Chatmohar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Oliur Rahman inspected the scene. Police later brought the situation under control, and announcements were made over loudspeakers urging farmers to return the taken fertilizer.
Pabna Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam stated, "There is no fertilizer crisis in the district. A three-member investigation committee has been formed regarding the incident, and a report has been requested promptly. Necessary action will be taken once the report is submitted."
Jahangir Alam Pramanik, Deputy Director of the Pabna District Department of Agricultural Extension, remarked, "Upon getting news of the incident, we inspected the spot alongside the Deputy Commissioner. According to our calculation, 611 bags of fertilizer are missing so far. Our preliminary suspicion is that this may have been a pre-planned event."
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Subhashish Bhattacharya Tushar, Chalanbeel Regional Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
