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Farm subsidy lost to fertiliser prices

BNP's rural leaders tell high-ups

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
The ruling BNP's grassroots leaders yesterday told party high-ups that the Tk 600-crote agricultural subsidy did not yield any positive results as fair prices of fertilisers and seeds were not ensured while loadshedding hampered irrigation.
Moreover, rising prices of essentials including rice were creating discontent among people, said the union-level BNP leaders from three districts of Rajshahi Division.
They alleged problems of rural areas were not properly reflected in parliament as lawmakers hardly visited their constituencies after they got elected.
The leaders also called upon the government to reorganise the state-owned media as those have lost credibility to people.
Some 2000 party leaders from 215 unions in Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts yesterday attended a daylong conference at Rajshahi stadium.
Senior Joint Secretary of BNP Tariquc Rahman chaired the confer-
ence and Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman was the chief guest. A number of ministers and MPs were present on the occasion.
Bishnopur union BNP Organising Secretary Subol Chandra said at the conference fanners now needed fresh agricultural loan as the Tk 600-crore subsidy did not reach them, "crops in vast areas are getting damaged as load-shedding hampers irrigation."
. Badalgachhi union’BNP leader Abdul Hamid said fertilisers and seeds were selling at higher rates, and many dealers stored fertilisers to create artificial crisis and raise prices.
Thrique Rahman instantly asked Hamid to disclose the names of dealers engaged in such black marketing. Hamid then said, "I know them but I should not name them in public."
Jhilimpur union BNP President from Chapainawabganj said he has only one demand- checking the prices of essentials. "We face
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criticisms from people particularly for price hike of rice and oil."
Rafique Sarkar, president of Kismotgrampur union BNP, quoted local people as saying that during the Awami League rule, no development took place but essentials' prices did not rise. Under the BNP rule, despite development in all fields, prices of essentials have up.
Shubhodanga union BNP President Mozaffar Hossain said, "People do not believe in reports by the state-owned media, and these should be reorganised."
Several union BNP leaders including Babor Uddin, Shariful Islam and Himadri Sarkar dwelt on farmers' problems.
They alleged that many MPs do not visit their areas even once a month.
Addressing the conference, Saifur Rahman said Awami League (AL) is a very old party but it does follow the norms of politics. They (AL) like politics of violence as they lack public support, he added.
Tarique Rahman asked his party men to keep vigil on fertiliser and seed dealers, and help ensure that government facilities reach the people.
"You should not depend solely on the government. You have to find out yourselves the ways of developing the country", he said.
He hoped MPs would regularly visit their areas.