A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the disappearance of 54 sacks of fertiliser allocated for farmers from the premises of the Chuadanga Sadar Upazila Agriculture Office.

The committee, headed by Additional Agriculture Officer Shahinuzzaman, has been asked to submit its report within five working days.

A general diary (GD) has also been filed with Chuadanga Sadar Police Station over the incident.

The shortage came to light on Sunday during fertiliser distribution, triggering anger among farmers who had gathered to collect the agricultural input.

According to the Agriculture Office, the fertiliser was brought from a Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) warehouse and stored on the premises of the Sadar Upazila Agriculture Office.

A total of 2,700 bags of fertiliser had been stored there, including 1,350 bags of MOP and DAP fertiliser. The fertiliser had been distributed among farmers over the past several days.

Several farmers said they had signed for the fertiliser in the morning but were later informed that 54 bags were missing. They were asked to return the following day to collect their allocation.

The farmers protested and demanded that the fertiliser be supplied on the same day. The situation became tense at one point.

Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Anisur Rahman said fertiliser was purchased from outside with office funds and distributed to the farmers to avoid disruption in supply.

“The matter is being investigated,” he said.

Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tithi Mitra said the agriculture officer had informed her about the missing fertiliser and that she advised him to file a complaint with the police.

“The investigation will reveal what actually happened to the missing fertiliser,” she said.