Bangladesh Jamaat accuses Rahman government of failing farmers amid fertilizer crisis

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Mia Golam Porwar accused prime minister Tarique Rahman’s government of failing farmers through what he called shortsighted agricultural policies and mismanagement as a nationwide fertilizer shortage threatens aman rice and other crops.

“Farmers are suffering like this due to the government’s failed and shortsighted agricultural policies,” Porwar said in a statement Sunday.

He alleged marginalized farmers were being deprived of fertilizer and accused ruling party-backed dealers and activists of selling supplies at excessive prices, increasing farmers’ production costs.

Porwar said farmers had demonstrated and blocked highways in Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram demanding adequate supplies. He also cited reports of fertilizer being looted from warehouses and agriculture workers being confined.

He urged the government to break alleged syndicates, end what he described as harassment of farmers, and ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supplies to protect agricultural production and food security.