Police have seized 71 tonnes of government TSP fertilizer from four trucks in Bhola while it was allegedly being smuggled. One truck driver has been arrested in connection with the incident.
The trucks, carrying 1,420 bags of fertilizer, were seized on Thursday (March 5) from two ferries heading toward Laxmipur at the Ilisha ferry ghat in Bhola Sadar upazila.
According to police and fertilizer warehouse authorities, the government fertilizer was supposed to be distributed to districts across the Barisal division from the Bhola fertilizer warehouse. The seized consignment was reportedly meant for Barisal and Barguna.
Acting on a tip-off, law enforcers seized three fertilizer-laden trucks from the Sufia Kamal ferry and another from the Kusumkoli ferry. However, drivers of three trucks managed to flee the scene.
Bhola Ilisha Police Outpost In-charge Bashir Alam said that a group was attempting to smuggle the fertilizer out of Bhola to create an artificial shortage in the market.
“In total, 71 tonnes of TSP fertilizer were seized from four trucks on two ferries. The estimated market value of the fertilizer is about Tk 20 lakh. One truck driver named Arman has been detained, and legal action is underway,” he said.
