Rain damages fertiliser under open sky

Heavy rainfall damaged over 2000 sacks of urea fertiliser as they were kept under the open sky due to lack of accommodation at the godown of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.

At present, 22,000 tonnes of fertiliser are stocked at Shibganj Buffer Stock while it has the capacity to keep only 7,500 tonnes, said Asaduzzaman Khan, officer-in-charge of the BCIC warehouse.

Shortage of space at the godown compelled us to pile up a large amount of fertiliser under the open sky, making it vulnerable to damage by rain, the OC said, adding that it is reserved for the next aman season, and will be distributed among at least 103 dealers of ten upazilas within this month.

At present 15,000 tonnes of fertliser are stored inside the warehouse while seven thousand tonnes were kept under the open sky, covering polythene, he said.

At least 2/3 thousand sacks of fertiliser were damaged due to heavy rain that continued for two days since June 24, said labourers of the warehouse.

Asaduzzaman Khan, however, said over 4000 sacks got wet.

Replying to a query, he said the damage is minimum, considering the huge amount.