Local residents seized a vehicle carrying 40 sacks of fertilizer worth an estimated Tk.60,000 allegedly being smuggled for black-market sale in Lohagara Upazila, Narail.
The Nasimon (a local transport vehicle) was intercepted around 10:30 pm Wednesday at Bhit Battala in Makrail area, Shalnagar Union on the Kalna-Lahuria regional road. After locals alerted authorities, Lohagara Upazila Executive Officer Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Upazila Agriculture Officer Munmun Saha and police arrived at the scene and seized both the vehicle and the fertilizer.
The sacks were reportedly being illegally transported from the shop of Md. Alim Sheikh a fertilizer sub-dealer and Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Lahuria Bazar after being purchased from Fedi Bazar in Narail Sadar Upazila. Md. Alim Sheikh son of the late Siddique Sheikh of Dinnathpara in Lahuria Union claimed he bought the fertilizer from several shops to restock his own empty store amid a local supply shortage and denied wrongdoing.
The seized fertilizer was later sold to local farmers at a fair price through an open auction that night.
The Upazila Agriculture Officer said the incident is under investigation, while the Upazila Executive Officer confirmed that legal action will be taken against the accused dealer once the probe concludes.
