Boro farmers agitate demanding uninterrupted power supply
Farmers demonstrate in front of the Rural Electrification Board office in Nilphamari on Monday demanding smooth power supply in the area to facilitate irrigation during the ongoing boro season. Photo: STAR
Hundreds of farmers in Rajshahi, Madaripur and Nilphamari districts demonstrated yesterday and the day before demanding uninterrupted power supply for irrigation of boro fields. Hundreds of farmers gathered at Rajshahi DC's office premises and demonstrated for one and a half hours yesterday demanding 18 to 20 hours of continuous power supply to boro fields. Holding sickle in hands and wearing 'mathal' (hat), the protesters held a rally at around 11:00am and threatened to go for a tougher agitation if their demand was not met within 48 hours, reports our staff correspondent. They also held a procession carrying placards and banners and submitted a memorandum to Rajshahi DC Muhammad Delwar Bakht in this regard. They said the authorities must ensure power supply for around 20 hours a day for smooth irrigation of boro fields. Most of the protesters came from Godagari and Poba upazilas where they said they were getting electricity for only four to five hours at a stretch. In Madaripur, scores of farmers and locals of Rajoir attacked the residence of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and blocked Dhaka-Barisal Highway yesterday demanding adequate supply of electricity for irrigation. After half an hour road blockade, the protesters submitted a memo to the UNO, reports our correspondent. In Nilphamari, several hundred farmers from different villages besieged the office of the Rural Electrification Board (REB) on Wednesday demanding smooth supply of power for irrigation of boro fields. About 500-600 farmers from Charaikhola, Kalar Bazar, Dalaler Bazar, Basunia Para and surrounding villages of Sadar upazila gathered in front of the REB office at Suti Para village at about 1:30 pm shouting for smooth supply of power. At one stage, the security men closed the main gate of the office as the agitating farmers were trying to get into the compound to meet the general manager (GM) of Nilphamari REB to lodge their complaint. At this, the farmers became more agitated and began to demonstrate on the Nilphamari-Saidpur road in front of the office. Finally, the general manager (GM) came out to meet the agitating farmers at the main gate. The farmers expressed their grievances saying they could not irrigate the fields because erratic power supply. A number of others also complained that a section of REB men were demanding bribe for providing electricity to their villages. GM Habibur Rahman assured the farmers that he would soon seek more power from higher authorities for ensuring adequate supply.
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