Farmers from different parts of the country dumped paddy on the streets outside the secretariat when police obstructed their procession towards the food ministry on Sunday.
Bangladesh Krishak Samiti organised the demonstration, demanding a more profitable price for paddy in the ongoing boro season by fixing the rate at Tk 850 per 40kg and for the government to procure directly from farmers by opening buying centers at markets and at unions.
They also demanded a reduction in prices of different agricultural inputs including fertiliser, seeds, diesel and pesticides, as well as a system to sell farmer’s products by forming cooperatives.
Prior to the procession, hundreds of farmers and Samity leaders and activists from different areas met in a rally in front of the National Press Club where they alleged that though the government had fixed boro price at Tk 720 per 40 kg, the same amount was now selling for Tk 400 to Tk 500 in different areas.
They said the government had set a target to procure 9 lakh tonnes of rice and 1.5 lakh tonnes of paddy from local markets. But the existing procurement system will not benefit them, as the government buys them at upazilas and district headquarters and the farmers cannot get there for high carrying costs and time.
Besides, the farmers never make rice to sell and as a result, they are compelled to sell their produce to traders, millers and middlemen, mostly backed by ruling party men.
They said the government’s procurement drive will benefit only the middlemen.
Samiti general secretary Sajjad Zahir Chandan addressing the rally threatened to declare tougher agitation programmes to press home the demands of farmers.
The organisation vice-president, Nurur Rahman Selim, organising secretary Zahid Hossain Khan, central leaders Noman Hayder, Tofazzel Hossain and Manabendra Dev, Bangladesh Khetmajur Union president Sohel Ahmed and farmers Mohsin Mridha from Chandpur and Belayet Hossain from Manikganj also spoke.