Under cover of night, miscreants have cut down fruiting bean plants on 15 decimals of land in Ishwardi, Pabna. The farmer fears a loss of more than Tk 1 lakh.

Local farmers said Rabiul Islam, son of Abdul Mannan of Baghhachhla village in Muladuli union, had grown early beans on 50 decimals of land. Repeated heavy rain this season badly damaged his bean field. After two weeks of care the plants had started to bear. Some time on the night of Sunday, 20 October, miscreants cut the stems of the bean plants on 15 of the 50 decimals.

Farmer Enamul Haque Elin said growing early beans costs farmers a great deal, and this year the heavy rain almost doubled the cost. The 15 decimals whose plants were cut had cost about Tk 30,000-35,000 to cultivate. Harvesting had begun a few days earlier. That plot was higher than the rest and had yielded better, and it could have produced at least Tk 1 lakh worth of beans, he said.

Monirul Islam Swapan, elder brother of Rabiul Islam, told Jago News that his younger brother had grown beans on 50 decimals and had picked about one and a half maunds of beans on Monday morning. As the sun rose, they saw the tips of the plants drooping, and then found that the plants on 15 decimals had been cut. "We suspect one person, because my younger brother had an argument with him a week ago," he said. "He was previously involved in stealing beans and other crops, and this time too there was a quarrel with him over bean theft. We have told the village elders and hope they will judge fairly."

Rabiul Islam said beans are often stolen from his field, so he had gone there at about 10.30pm on Sunday and stayed until about 11.30pm, when the plants were still fine. From dawn he and four labourers began picking. After sunrise he saw the tips and leaves drooping and found the stems had been cut. The plants cut were those on the 15 decimals where the yield was good.

He said he had argued a few days earlier with a man from the village, Iqbal Hossain (35), over bean theft, and that the man had earlier been caught stealing beans, cauliflower, okra and other vegetables. Local elders came to see the field, and on their advice he did not file any complaint or general diary at the police station. They assured him they would take action.

Contacted by mobile phone, the accused Iqbal Hossain said: "I am now in Sirajganj. I came here early on Monday morning. I know nothing about the bean plants being cut."

Ishwardi upazila agriculture officer Mita Sarkar told Jago News the affected farmer had come to their office. "This incident is very sad. We will try to give the affected farmer all possible help," she said.

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