The Ghorashal-Polash Urea Fertiliser Factory has experienced a technical malfunction, leading to a halt in production for the past three days during the crucial cultivation season. Operations ceased at 2:00 am on Thursday, following the discovery of a system fault, causing an estimated daily loss of 2,800 tonnes of urea production at the factory, known as the largest urea fertiliser plant in South Asia. Concerns have arisen regarding a potential fertiliser shortage during the peak rice and vegetable cultivation period.
To address the issue, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) Chairman Md Fazlur Rahman and Industries Secretary Mohammad Obaidur Rahman visited the facility to assess the situation. The General Manager (Technical), Sarfaraz Khan, stated that production had been suspended since Thursday midnight, with a three-member committee established to investigate the root cause of the fault and provide recommendations within three days.
The General Manager (Commercial), Atiqur Rahman Khan, revealed that the plant had 24,000 tonnes of urea in stock, both bagged and loose, at the time of the shutdown. Despite a target of 800,000 tonnes in the last fiscal year, the factory exceeded expectations with an output of 816,000 tonnes, while maintaining an annual production capacity of 1 million tonnes.
GM (Administration) Md Fakhrul Alam confirmed that restart procedures were in progress, emphasizing that the shutdown was necessary due to an unforeseen technical issue. He expressed confidence in the prompt resumption of production, citing the existing stockpile as a buffer against any significant fertiliser scarcity concerns.
Constructed at a cost of approximately Tk 15,000 crore in Palash upazila, the fertiliser factory was inaugurated on November 12, 2023.