Boro growers go on 'strike' for power

Hundreds of farmers from three villages under Mauha union in Gouripur upazila staged a demonstration yesterday demanding restoration of power supply to a deep tube-well used for Boro cultivation in the area.

The deep tube-well is being run under Mauha-Boroikanda Krishak Samobay Samity.

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The farmers from Boroikanda, Laxminagar and Ramkrishnapur villages protested with Boro saplings in their hands and formed a human chain around their dry fields to voice their demands.

They also observed a token strike lying down on their dry fields. The farmers also threatened to besiege the samity office and block Mymensingh-Kishoreganj road if power supply is not restored immediately.

“We contacted the officials of Mymensingh Palli Biddhut Samity-3 at Shambhuganj Bazar in Mymensingh sadar upazila several times but they did not respond,” said Abdul Mannan Fakir, manager of the samity.

 At least 391 farmers of three villages have been dependent on the deep tube-well for their 200 acres of land since 2006. Fakir said the farmers are really frustrated as time is running out for transplantation of saplings.

"We are already late and the yield will be seriously hampered this season," Mannan said, adding that the samity runs no arrears with electricity bills.

Al Amin, a farmer from Boroikanda, said he has two and a half acres of land and he is dependent on the deep tube-well. If he cannot begin cultivation now, it will be disastrous for him and his family.

“This is our livelihood,” lamented the farmer.

 Contacted, Prodhish Mandol, deputy general manager of Mymensingh Palli Biddhut Samity-3, said a faction of the farmers' samity lodged a case over the ownership of the deep tube-well recently and his office received a copy of the case lodged with a Mymensingh court.

After investigation, Gouripur upazila rural development officer yesterday submitted its report, which suggested that the present manager, Fakir, run the deep tube-well, Mandol said.

“Electricity connection would be available very soon,” he added.