Rice import from India hurting farmers: BNP

Bangladesh should stop importing rice as it is preventing local farmers from getting proper prices for their produce, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said, reports bdnews24.com.
He was speaking at a press briefing of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal on Saturday.
Different programmes were announced at the briefing to press for implementation of their thirteen demands that included a halt to rice import from India.
"This government has been extremely indifferent to farmers. We have had a very good harvest but yet farmers are facing losses. They can't sell the grains they have produced."
"There are tonnes of freshly harvested paddy in their storage but the government is either buying it directly or allowing its favoured importers to buy duty-free rice from India so that they can make profits … and our farmers are left with nothing," said Fakhrul, a former junior agriculture minister.
The BNP acting secretary general, who also heads the party's Krishak Dal, said 60,000 poultry farms had closed down because of the government's policies.
Investments in fishery sector too dried up, he said, while accusing the government of cutting subsidies meant for farmers.
Those who took agriculture loan were being charged 19 per cent interest, he claimed.
"The central bank will give Tk 2 billion to Trust Bank for giving loans to farmers. The Trust Bank will disburse the loans at the interest rate of 19 per cent through an NGO called Shajag. The Bangladesh Bank never said there would be 19 per cent interest."
Krishak Dal also demanded that the government immediately procure paddy or rice from farmers, besides stopping import of corn from India.
It also called for an end to extortion and police harassment while transporting Rabi crops.
Its other demands include an end to atrocities of leaseholders at village markets and reduction of diesel prices.