Police detained Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation storekeeper Md Akhtarul Islam, 35, over allegations that about 227 metric tonnes of government fertiliser were sold without approval in Dinajpur. The operation was conducted around 11pm on Monday at a BADC government fertiliser warehouse in the Nashipur area of Dinajpur Sadar upazila. Police said the warehouse official was taken into custody during the raid.

According to police, Akhtarul Islam admitted during preliminary questioning that he sold a total of 227 metric tonnes of fertiliser at different times in July and August without permission from higher authorities. Police also said they found information indicating the involvement of two BADC-contracted dealers, Sohag Hossain of Birganj upazila and Ansarul Islam of Kaharol upazila.

BADC said Nashipur has two government fertiliser warehouses, named Kanchan and Steel, with a combined storage capacity of about 18,000 metric tonnes for MOP, DAP and TSP fertilisers. Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Nurnabi said BADC authorities were preparing to file a case and legal procedures were under way. He said police would take action against others if the investigation finds evidence of their involvement.