The meeting, chaired by Rehana Begum, Vice-President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, was addressed by President and General Secretary of Bangladesh Krishok Federation comrade Badrul Alam and Zayed Iqbal Khan receptively, Joint Secretary of Jatiya Krishak Jot Kamruzzaman Fosi, convener of Bangladesh Chashi Samiti Sultan Ahmed Biswas and President of Bangladesh Krishak Sabha AAM Fayez Hossain, President of Bangladesh Adivasi Samiti Omoli Kisku, Leader of Bangladesh Landless Association Dr. Shamsul Alam, Nur Mostafa, Bangladesh Krishok Federation Dhaka City Unit President Shahabuddin Matabbor, Press and Publication Secretary Sazzad Sazu, among others. Lovely Yasmin, President of Readymade Garments’ Workers Federation spoke on the occasion expressing solidarity.

At the meeting, the leaders expressed concern over the inadequate allocation in the agriculture sector, saying that the pressure of high inflation in the country’s economy would have been reduced if adequate allocation had been made to agriculture. During the Corona period, farmers have shown that there is no alternative to agriculture to deal with the extreme crisis of the country. They said at a press conference last month, the Progressive Krishak Sangram Parishad, a larger coalition of 15 farmers, farm laborers and landless organizations, demanded an allocation of 15% of the national budget to the agricultural sector. Surprisingly, the government has allocated Rs 42,000 crore for agriculture, food and fisheries, which is negligible compared to the claimed allocation.

The leaders said the press conference also suggested the introduction of universal rations and pensions for farmers aged 60 and above like government officials and employees but it was noticed that a controversial ‘universal pension’ was announced but nothing was said on the rationing question.

The leaders slammed the government’s announcement in the budget to whiten illicit black money smuggled abroad, saying the government had provided relief to looters without thinking of using black money for the benefit of the people.

The leaders called upon the government to pass a people-oriented budget in the interest of 90 per cent poor workers-peasants-working people by amending it immediately before announcing the final budget.

Date: 11 June 2022

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Badrul Alam
Member Secretary
Progressive Krishak Sangram Parishad