Pesticides Worth Tk 20 Million Vanish from Sealed Warehouse in Saidpur.

Mohinul Islam Sujon, Crime Reporter. Some 99 metric tonnes of banned pesticides worth an estimated Tk 20 million have gone missing from a sealed warehouse at the BSCIC Industrial Estate in Saidpur, Nilphamari. The disappearance came to light last Wednesday when Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan visited the warehouse to oversee the destruction of the seized pesticides by burning them, following a court order. However, none of the officials and individuals responsible for the warehouse could explain how the seized pesticides disappeared. According to sources, the administration raided the warehouse at the BSCIC Industrial Estate on June 25, 2024, and seized 99 metric tonnes of illegal pesticide identified as “Bifar-5G.” The warehouse was subsequently sealed, while custody of the seized goods was handed over to the Upazila Agriculture Officer. The Industrial Estate Officer and the police administration were assigned to monitor the warehouse. A case was filed against the owner of the pesticides. The case has been pending before the Nilphamari Special Court for nearly two years. After receiving a recent court directive, Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan went to the warehouse last Wednesday. Upon arrival, he found that none of the seized pesticides remained there. Industrial Estate Officer Mashiur Rahman said he regularly checked the warehouse gate. “I regularly check the gate of the warehouse. Although the entire industrial estate is under my supervision, responsibility for the warehouse or factory primarily rests with the concerned owner,” he said. He added, “However, I noticed signs of fresh plastering on a section of the wall inside the warehouse. Perhaps the owner of the goods or the warehouse owner removed the pesticides.” Upazila Agriculture Officer Dhiman Bhushan said, “I know nothing about this matter.” Monowar Hossain Sarker, proprietor of Messrs Monowar Traders on Rangpur Road in Saidpur town and the owner of the seized pesticides, also denied having any knowledge of the disappearance. “I know nothing about this matter. After the incident, the police instructed me not to go there. So, I have never visited the warehouse. I am waiting for justice from the court,” he said. The disappearance of such a large quantity of seized pesticides from a sealed warehouse has raised questions about the security and supervision of the seized goods while the case remains pending in court.