Production at the nation’s only state-owned diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer factory, located in the Anwara upazila of Chattogram, has been suspended following a critical shortage of ammonia, a vital raw material.

Officials confirmed that operations at the plant were halted at approximately 8 pm on Saturday.

Alamgir Jalil, manager and head of administration at DAP Fertilizer Company Limited (DAPFCL), confirmed the suspension, stating that the scarcity of ammonia made continued operations impossible.

“We depend on ammonia supply from Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO).

Both factories are currently closed. Until they resume production and supply ammonia, we have no option but to keep DAPFCL closed,” Jalil explained.

The crisis stems from a broader energy shortage, as both CUFL and KAFCO—the two primary fertilizer plants in Anwara—have been offline since March 4 due to a lack of gas supply.

DAPFCL was established under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to promote balanced fertilizer use and satisfy the rising demand for nitrogen and phosphorus-based compound fertilizers in the agricultural sector.

Situated in Rangadia, Anwara, the facility consists of two units (DAP-1 and DAP-2) with a combined daily production capacity of 800 tonnes.

Since it began commercial operations in 2006, the plant has been a cornerstone of the country’s agricultural supply chain.

When fully operational, the factory typically produces between 600 and 700 tonnes of fertilizer per day.

With Inputs from UNB