Two Years After Potato Damage
Growers demand compensation from Dinajpur cold storage
Potato farmers in Dinajpur form a human chain in the town yesterday, demanding compensation from the owner of Uttara Himghar, the cold storage where all their potatoes got damaged in 2010.Photo: STAR
Potato growers in the district yesterday formed a human chain, demanding compensation for rotting of 57,000 sacks of potatoes at a local cold storage two years ago. Khotigrastho Alu Chasi Sangram Committee, a body of affected potato growers, organised the programme in front of Uttara Himgharh, located at Gopalganj under Sadar upazila. The affected farmers alleged that Uttara Himgharh authorities in 2010 stored at least 57,000 sacks of potatoes against the capacity of 37,000 knowing well the condition of their power generator. As a consequence, the entire sacks of potatoes at the cold storage got rotten, triggering farmers' agitation in mid April. The farmers also alleged that Mirza Ashfaq, APS of a state minister, bought the cold storage soon after the AL led government assumed power in 2009. Expressing their frustration, the farmers alleged that immediately after the incident, a meeting was held at Dinajpur deputy commissioner office where the owner had promised to give compensation to the affected farmers. However, none of farmers got their compensation till date, they said. After the incident, a probe team also held Uttara Himgarh authorities responsible for the neglect, added the farmers at the human chain programme. The farmers demanded Tk 6 crore compensation and action against the owner of the cold storage. Mirza Ashfaq, however, said he filed a case against local Palli Biddyut Samity demanding compensation. Compensation will be given after the case is resolved, he said.
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