Fertiliser dealers across Chittagong division have decided to stop receiving fertiliser from different state-run factories in protest of alleged extortion by police and by some contractors of the factories.

As part of their strike, they stopped purchasing fertiliser from TSP Complex Ltd from yesterday.

Md Zulfiqar Ali, managing director of TSP Complex Ltd, confirmed the incident, but said it would not create any problem for the factory or its production because it had enough space to store fertiliser.

The strike will continue until the authorities concerned stop the extortion, said Yousuf Khan Mahbub, general secretary of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association.

The dealers will stop purchasing fertiliser from three other state-owned factories—Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Factory Ltd (CUFL), Di-Ammonium Phosphate Fertiliser Company Ltd-from today (Wednesday).

Mahbub said around 1,000 dealers in greater Chittagong bought fertiliser from the government factories.

In Chittagong, the dealers usually receive on an average of around 500, 1500, and 800 tonnes of fertiliser respectively from TSP Complex Ltd, CUFL, and Di-Ammonium Phosphate Fertiliser Company Ltd everyday, he added.

The dealers are going to speak with Chittagong district and police administrations today where the deputy commissioner and high officials of police will be present.