The Krishak O Khetmojur Sangram Parishad, a platform of farmer and farm-labourer organisations, has demanded a halt to solar power plants built on cropland, enough fertiliser for farmers at the government price, and rationing for farm labourers and other poor people. The demands were made at a rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka at 11am on Sunday.

Speakers alleged that solar plants are being set up on cropland in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, and elsewhere. In Bhaluka, they claimed, about 170 acres of cropland and homestead land is being sought for a solar plant in the name of the local MP's wife, and they cited newspaper reports that the local agriculture officer first objected but later issued a no-objection certificate under pressure.

Government policy, they said, does not allow solar plants that destroy fertile cropland or evict homesteads; such projects belong on fallow khas land in coastal and char areas, or wherever people will not be harmed. They added that solar plants on cropland under the previous government had left many farmers without work.

The fertiliser shortage was also raised. Farmers have not been getting enough fertiliser since the start of the last paddy season, speakers said; though the government says there is no shortage, fertiliser is not available at the official price, and many who cannot buy it even at higher prices are seeing crops suffer.

Warning that the fuel price rise will push food prices higher, they called for rationing at once, family cards for farm-labourer households and farmer cards for sharecroppers. District-level protests on these demands were announced for 5 October.

The rally was chaired by Advocate Anwar Hossain Reza, coordinator of the Parishad and working president of the Khetmojur Samity, and addressed by Krishak Samity president Advocate S M A Sabur, Bangladesh Khetmojur Samity president Dr Fazlur Rahman and Jatiya Krishak-Khetmojur Samity president Professor Abdus Sattar, among other farm-group leaders. It was conducted by Khetmojur Samity general secretary Arnab Sarkar.

Source: Samakal