Hundreds of farmers rally for cut in agri-input prices

Staff Reporter  :
Hundreds of farmers at 34 spots in 16 districts of two divisions of the country’s northern on Saturday held rallies to draw attention of the government for reducing the prices of agricultural inputs for their survival.
The rallies covered from Chapainawabganj to the Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge in Sirajganj and the event was organised by the left-leaning farmers’ organisation, Bangladesh Krishak Samity.
To participate in the gathering, hundreds of farmers from various areas arrived in the vicinity of the Kaddar More on the Bangabandhu Bridge Highway and surrounding areas.
The farmers advocated for reducing the cost of agricultural production by decreasing the prices of inputs such as fertilizers, oil, electricity, and seeds.

They also demanded fair prices for agricultural products, establishment of farmers’ rights on agricultural land, protecting interests of the farmers who are the victims of river erosion, cessation of land grabbing, suspension of projects on agricultural land, withdrawal of lawsuits against farmers, and more.

Their demands were reflected in banners, posters, and placards that they carried during the rallies. They also chanted slogans : “Save the Farmers, Save the Country”
Advocate Hedayetul Islam, the President of the Sirajganj District Committee of Bangladesh Krishak Samity, SM Sabuj, the President of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Krishak Samity, and Aziz Mollik, Shafiqul Islam, Gopal Saha, and Sunil Kumar from the Sirajganj District Committee expressed their views at the gathering. The speakers stated that despite being the

main driving force of the country’s economy, farmers have been neglected for ages. No steps are being taken to fulfill the farmers’ just demands.
They emphasised that for Bangladesh to thrive, agriculture must be protected by ensuring the well-being of farmers.

At the same time, a similar gathering took place in front of the Chapainawabganj Upazila Parishad. They demanded the fair purchase of paddy from farmers at a minimum rate of Tk 1500 per maund, cessation of irregularities and corruption in agriculture throughout the country, proper distribution of irrigation water according to demand, and improvement of crop insurance and rural ration card schemes.
Humayun Kabir, the President of the Sirajganj District Committee of Bangladesh Krishak Samity, Milon Pal, the General Secretary, Abu Hasib, the Vice President, and Abid Hossain, the Organising Secretary of the Central Committee, as well as Israil Sento, the President of the Communist Party’s District Committee, delivered speeches at the gathering.