Dhaka: Fertilizer traders in Khulna and Pabna are facing huge losses as a large portion of their fertilizer imports ahead of the Boro season remain unsold due to the nationwide indefinite transport blockade enforced by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 20-Party Alliance.

Imported TSP, MOP and DAP fertilizers have been left unsold in the open air at major wharfs in Khulna, including those at Khalishpur, Shiramoni and Naoapara areas, as the supply chain across the district has been disrupted by the transport blockade.

The wharfs in these areas are the centres for fertilizers distribution as they supply to 42 points in Khulna, Jessore, Bagerhat and Faridpur. Fertilizers that arrive at Mongla Port in large ships from various countries, including Morocco, Russia, Belarus and Tunisia are distributed to the southwestern districts of the country through Khulna.

According to sources at the Khalishpur wharf No 7, about 15,000 tonnes of different fertilizers have been unloaded from the ships over the last few days, but most of the consignments have been left in the open air as the trucks are not plying the streets amid the blockade.

Besides, ships carrying about 14,000 tonnes fertilizers are expected to depart Mongla Port towards Khulna very soon.

About 1,500 tonnes of fertilizers have also been stored in the godowns of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).

Meanwhile, the supply of fertilizers to the northern districts of the country through the wharfs at Nagarbari in Pabna has also been halted due to the blockade.

Arif Hossain, a fertilizer importer at Nagarbari, said although about 150-200 trucks used to transport fertilizers from the Nagarbari wharfs to the rest of the northern districts every day, the number of the truckloads have now shrunk to 30-40 a day over the last few days.

The fertilizer importers now have to sell the imports even at lower prices than the government fixed rates while the truck fare has almost doubled, he added.

Ratan Shaha, another fertilizer importer, said about 2 lakh sacks (80 kg) have been stacked around the wharfs under the open sky as there is no space left in the godowns due to lack of sale amid the prolonged transport disruption.

If the situation continues, the Boro rice cultivation in the district is surely going to be hampered.