Leaders of Bangladesh Krishak Samity, an organisation of farmers, declared to stage a demonstration across the country on May 23 to press their demands including increasing of paddy price.   

The announcement came at a rally held by the organisation at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka this morning.

While speaking at the rally, the organisation’s leaders also demanded setting up of paddy purchasing centre in every union to ensure profitable price to the farmers.

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Fall in paddy price frustrates growers

Sazzad Jahir Chandan, general secretary of Bangladesh Krishak Samity, said, “The farmers will hold a sit-in in front of deputy commissioners’ offices in all the districts of the country on May 23 to press their demands”.

“We will announce a tougher programme on May 23 if the government does not take any initiative in this regard by this time,” he said.

Advocate SMA Sabur, president of the association, said the government is yet to respond although the rice growers are frustrated and have been protesting by setting their paddy plants ablaze.

Rather, the government claimed that the country has achieved self-sufficiency in food grains.

The success of self-sufficiency has been possible for the contribution of farmers but they are not getting reasonable price of the paddy, he said.

“We strongly condemn the agricultural policy of the government,” he added.

After the rally, the demonstrators brought out a procession in the city.