OUR CORRESPONDENT, Patuakhali

Farmers in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali staged a rally and procession yesterday demanding fair prices for paddy, dismantling of market syndicates, and protection of farmers’ rights.

Organised by the Kalapara unit of Bangladesh Krishak Samity, the programme was held at Pakhimara Bazar in Nilganj union. Upazila unit president GM Mahbub presided over the rally, joined by local farmers and organisation leaders.

Speakers said farmers spend Tk 30-32 to produce a kilogramme of paddy but are forced to sell at Tk 16-18 due to middlemen and syndicates. They added that harvester owners, citing the fuel crisis, now charge Tk 16,000-18,000 to harvest one kani of land -- about Tk 6,000 more than last year -- pushing farmers into hardship.

Leaders urged the government to procure paddy directly from farmers, set up union-level centres, and break syndicates. They also demanded cancellation of canal and sluice gate leases to ease waterlogging and improve irrigation.