A farmer named Osman Ali in Hakimpur, Dinajpur, has alleged that someone destroyed the Boro seedbeds for his 40 bighas of land by applying pesticide, over a past enmity. He has lodged a written complaint with the police.

The incident happened on the night of Thursday, 12 January, in Boaldar village of the upazila. After hearing of the damage, the upazila agriculture officer visited the site on the morning of Sunday, 15 January.

According to the written complaint, Osman Ali had prepared seedbeds for 40 bighas of land to grow paddy this Boro season. When he went to the seedbeds on the morning of Friday, 13 January, he found all the seedlings dying. Someone had applied pesticide under cover of darkness.

Osman Ali said: "I don't know who did me this harm over a past enmity. I am finished. Today I have nothing left. I want proper justice."

Hakimpur upazila agriculture officer Dr Momtaz Sultana said she went to inspect the seedbeds after learning of it in the morning. A weed-control pesticide had been applied to the seedbeds, she said. The roots were still in good condition, and applying some pesticide and fertiliser to the seedbeds could bring some improvement.

Chhadrul Islam, chairman of the local Boaldar union, said he had heard about the damage to farmer Osman Ali's seedbeds and called it a despicable act.

Abu Sayem Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Hakimpur police station, said a farmer had lodged a written complaint about the destruction of seedlings in Boaldar village, and action would be taken after investigation.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.