Milk producers' ultimatum to Baghabari Milkvita
Two lawmakers back their 3-point demand
Farmers enlisted with Baghabari Milkvita yesterday demanded removal of the organisation's general manager in 48 hours, election to the managing council within a month and fixing of procurement price of milk at Tk 35 per litre.
Otherwise, the farmers threatened to stop supplying milk to Milkvita from September 2.
Earlier in the morning, the farmers of primary cooperative societies under the company put up barricade on Bogra-Nagarbari highway to press home their demands.
A huge number of milk producers and leaders of Milkvita managing council took position on the highway in front of the Milkvita office from 11:15am to 12:30pm disrupting traffic movement on the road.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway during the blockade causing immense suffering to the passengers.
Lawmaker from Ullapara constituency Shafiqul Islam Shafi expressed solidarity with the farmers and said the farmers have made three reasonable demands including removal of "illegal" GM.
Chayan Islam, MP from Shahjadpur seat said that a talk with the management in Dhaka on August 24 failed to resolve the issues compelling the farmers to take to the streets again.
He said Milkvita is paying Tk 26 per litre milk whereas it was Tk 32 during the last caretaker government.
Chayan further said, if the GM was not removed by 48 hours the farmers will stop supplying milk to Milkvita from September 2.
Shahjadpur upazila chairman Hasibur Rahman Swapon, Bhangura upazila chairman Baqui Billah were among those who spoke at the rally.
Milkvita Deputy General Manager Dr Khandker Aminul Islam claimed that there was no malpractice in the organisation.
He said Milkvita was being run with transparency adding that the company made a profit of Tk 16 crore in the last fiscal year.
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