Kaladan News


Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2004


BDR Seized 2,500 Sacks of Fertilizer En-route to Burma


Cox’s Bazar, September: The police-BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) in a joint raid seized 2,500 sacks of urea fertilizer in Cox’s Bazar district on 11th September 2004, night, said Alam from Cox’s Bazar.


They seized fertilizer from an engine boat anchored at Pookkhali Ghat (port) in Moheshkhali Island of Cox’s Bazar district that was en-route from Bangladesh to Sittwe (Akyab), Burma, said police of Cox’ Bazar.


Sub-inspector of Kotwali thana, Altaf Hussain said, “ On a secret information, the police and the BDR launch the operation on the boat at about 9:30pm and seized the fertilizer bringing from Karnaphuli river of Chittagong in a bid to smuggle out to Sittwe, Burma.”


“Though Bangladeshi farmers are facing acute fertilizer crisis across the country for the cause of recent flood, the smugglers are trying to smuggle the chemical fertilizer to neighboring country, Burma,” said a farmer from Border area.


Although, the police and the BDR have been trying to bring to an end the smuggling of fertilizer to Burma by arresting the smugglers and seizing the cargo boats or trawlers across the Bangladesh-Burma border belt since the beginning of this year, so far they cannot reach their goal, said sultan, a villager of Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar District.


Sayed Hussain, a farmer from Cox’s Bazar said that soil fertility is on the wane due to rampant use of agro-chemicals. Reduction in use of chemicals replacing with organic manure is essential for maintaining the soil fertility.


Since the Burma government production of fertilizer has not been able to cover the domestic demands, the sea-smuggling trade of fertilizer from Bangladesh is blooming. ##.


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