On a tip-off, Rab-3 members raided the factory for two and a half hours from 8:30pm and recovered one truckload of sand, powdered brick and salt, different colour ingredients and chemical substances.

The law enforcers also seized a huge quantity of labels, stickers and bags of different brands in the market.

The arrestees are Abdur Razzak, brother of owner Abdul Gafur who escaped arrest, Razzak's associates Zahid, and employees Mamun, Kamrul and Zakir.

Razzak admitted that they have been manufacturing counterfeit fertiliser and shrimp food using those materials and marketing those in 15 districts including Barisal and Satkhira for a long time.