Human chain and memorandum presented in Lohagara demanding protection of the existence of fertilizer sellers

Retail fertilizer traders in Lohagara upazila of Narail formed a human chain and submitted a memorandum on Sunday (October 12), demanding the cancellation of the government’s decision to suspend their business licenses and calling for measures to protect their livelihood.

The program was organized by the Lohagara Upazila unit of the Krishi Sar Bikreta Association of Bangladesh (KSBAB). The hour-long human chain, held in front of the Lohagara Upazila Parishad, was joined by local fertilizer traders.

Speakers at the event included Hirok Molla, Abdul Alim, Masud Rana, Zakir Hossain, and Yunus Hossain Palash, among others.

They said the interim government’s agriculture adviser recently announced in a press briefing that the licenses of retail fertilizer traders nationwide would be suspended and that no further support would be given to them. This announcement, they added, has caused deep frustration and concern among around 44,000 licensed fertilizer retailers across the country.

Many of these traders, they noted, have been in the fertilizer business for more than three decades, supplying fertilizers directly to farmers—often on credit—and many operate with bank loans. “If retail fertilizer sales are halted, the livelihoods of thousands of families will collapse, and nearly five crore farmers will be affected,” the speakers said.

The speakers also demanded that existing ID cards and licenses remain valid, that the KSBAB be granted trade organization (T.O.) registration by October 25, 2025, and that representatives of fertilizer traders be included in future policy formulation.

After the human chain, a delegation of traders submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government through Lohagara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Abu Riyad.

UNO Abu Riyad confirmed receiving the memorandum and said it had been forwarded to the Chief Adviser’s office. Copies were also sent to the Advisers on Agriculture and Commerce, the Agriculture Secretary, the Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the Deputy Commissioner of Narail, the Deputy Director of DAE Narail, and the Lohagara Upazila Agriculture Officer.