Chittagong Correspondent:

Due to a severe shortage of ammonia, the main raw material for making fertilizers, the country's only state-owned DAP fertilizer manufacturing company, DAP Fertilizer Company Limited (DAPFCL), located in Anwara, Chittagong, has stopped production. The factory's production activities have been suspended since 8 pm on April 18 (Saturday), sources said.

DAPFCL's Manager and Divisional Head (Administration) Alamgir Jalil said that it was not possible to continue production due to the shutdown of ammonia supply. Usually, DAPFCL receives ammonia supply from Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (CAFCO). However, due to gas shortage, both those factories are currently closed, resulting in a shortage of raw materials.

Those concerned said that CUFL and CAFCO are unlikely to start until gas supply is normalized. As a result, DAPFCL's production will remain suspended unless ammonia supply resumes.

It is worth noting that DAPFCL was established under the supervision of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) under the Ministry of Industries to ensure balanced use of fertilizers in the country's agricultural sector and to meet the growing demand for compound fertilizers. This factory, established in Rangadia, Anwara Upazila of Chittagong, has two units (DAP-1 and DAP-2) with a daily production capacity of 800 tons. The factory has been in commercial production since 2006.

Currently, the factory was producing an average of 600 to 700 tons of fertilizer daily. Those concerned are concerned that the suspension of production may affect the supply of fertilizer to the agricultural sector.