Farmers cry for power, agitate in 2 districts
A large number of farmers of Barind area bring out a procession in Chapainawabganj town yesterday demanding smooth power supply for irrigation in Irri-boro fields.Photo: STAR
Farmers staged demonstrations in Chapainawabganj and Faridpur yesterday and the day before demanding smooth supply of electricity to keep irrigation pumps operational. In Chapainawabganj, several hundred farmers of Sadar upazila took out a procession at the district headquarters at around 10:00am and paraded the main streets of the town, reports our correspondent. The agitating farmers later submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding at least 18 hours power supply per day for irrigating Irri-boro fields in Barind region. They said Irri-boro fields have dried up due to lake of water as they cannot operate power pumps and shallow tube-wells to irrigate the croplands for frequent power outage. The farmers alleged they are getting electricity only for 3 to 4 hours during daytime while for 6 to 7 hours at night. “Our Irri-boro plants will die if the situation continues,” the farmers said, demanding immediate steps to save their crops. Deputy Commissioner KM Ali Azam assured the farmers of taking necessary measures to resolve the nagging power crisis. In Faridpur, about 200 farmers kept the local power office in Sadarpur upazila under siege for two hours on Tuesday, according to our correspondent. The agitated farmers locked the main gate of the power office and staged a sit-in on the office premises demanding smooth supply of electricity to the power pumps to keep them operational for at least 16 to 18 hours a day. On information, Sadarpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Oliur Rahaman rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators.
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