News Flash
RANGPUR, April 20, 2025 (BSS) - Farmer leaders in a human chain cum roadside
rally here today called upon the interim government to develop a welfare
agricultural management for agriculture and farmers like developed
countries.
They asked for initiatives to purchase agricultural products from farmers,
store in warehouses, if necessary, export abroad and develop
infrastructure for preservation to ensure food security by making farm
activities profitable.
They made the call from the roadside rally organized by Krishak Oikya
Parishad, Bangladesh (KOPB) at Press Club premises here today on the fourth
day of their week-long long march from Bogra to Panchagarh with ten-point
demands.
Moniruzzaman Talukder, Rangpur District President of KOPB, a non-political
farmers' organisation, presided over the event.
Chairman of KOPB Krishibid Manjur Alam, its Secretary General Sultan Hossain,
Organizing Secretary Dr Nazrul Islam, Agricultural Affairs Secretary
Shahabuddin Farazi and Office Secretary Maksudur Rahman Khan addressed the
event.
In addition, Kurigram District President of KOPB Masudur Rahman Jalal, its
Lalmonirhat District President Rezaul Karim, Rangpur District Joint General
Secretary Shamim Hasan, Kawnia Upazila President Arif Azad, among others,
spoke.
The farmer leaders said that although the agricultural sector is the backbone
of the country's economy, farmers are suffering and incurring losses today
for various reasons.
This time, they gave the example of potatoes produced, saying that since it
is not possible to recover the cost of potato production, the current interim
government must play an active role in saving farmers from any crop loss in
the future.
In addition, the powerful business syndicate is there like a blow to farmers
on the ground.
They said farmers are struggling to survive with the negative effects of
extreme drought and excessive rain. They also have to fight with sudden
floods due to the unwanted water flow of the neighboring country.
Every year, agricultural production is often disrupted due to natural
disasters. Farmers are suffering huge losses. Marginal and small farmers are
especially facing financial disaster.
In his concluding speech, Moniruzzaman Talukder stressed the need to develop
agricultural management that is beneficial for agriculture and farmers in the
country like in the developed world to deal with these risks.
The 10-point demand include formation of Potato and Onion Commission and
establishment of upazila-based storage and export centers, establishment of
farmers' markets throughout the country, simplification of agricultural loans
and incentives, ensuring fair prices for agricultural products produced by
freeing farmers from syndicates, stopping extortion and toll system in the
transport of agricultural products and allocating railway coaches,
introducing special allowances for farmers including allocation of khas and
fallow land, providing agricultural insurance and financial assistance system
by the government, ensuring provision of special medical services to farmers
at 50 percent discount in government and private hospitals, including farmer
representatives in various committees including the National Assembly and
providing modern agricultural technology and making it practical.
