Cold storage authorities in Dinajpur have set the storage fee for potatoes at 8 taka per kilogram, while the current market price of potatoes in the region ranges between 6 to 7 taka per kilogram. Farmers in the area are calling this situation unreasonable.
In protest against the increased cold storage fees, potato farmers and traders organized a demonstration and road blockade in Birganj, Dinajpur, on Thursday.
At Bijoy Chattar in Birganj town, the protest began peacefully, with farmers rallying, but escalated when they blocked the busy streets by dumping potatoes onto the road.
Protesters carried banners and festoons, chanting slogans against the price hike. The rally was joined by farmers, traders, student representatives from anti-discrimination movements, and local residents from various walks of life.
Prominent participants included Abdul Malek, president of the Potato Farmers and Traders Association; general secretary Haribabu; Jakir Hossain Dholu, general secretary of the BNP’s upazila unit; and Jemion Roy, a representative of the anti-discrimination student movement.
During the protest, speakers pointed out that, in the past, the storage cost per sack of potatoes ranged from Tk 300 to 350, but cold storage owners have now raised the cost to over Tk 500 per sack, charging Tk 8 per kilogram.
Due to this unfair price hike, farmers and traders were forced to take to the streets.
The protesters warned of more extensive demonstrations within a week if the cold storage charges were not reduced.
However, the blockade was eventually lifted after Birganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fazle Elahi assured the farmers of resolution to their problem.
