In order to build an effective alliance an exchange of views meeting of peasants’, agricultural workers’ and landless people’ organizations took place. On 19 September 2020, an exchange of views meeting comprising peasants’, agricultural workers’ and landless people’s organisations was held at 4 pm at the central office of Bangladesh Krishok Federation at 27/11/1-A Topkhana Road, 2^nd Floor, Segunbagicha, Dhaka-1000 aiming to build an effective alliance for the interest of genuine peasantry in the country.

Presided over by Mahmudul Hasan Manik. President of Jatya Krishok Samity (National Peasants’ Association), the meeting was addressed by, among others, Bangladesh Krishok Federation President Badrul Alam and General Secretary Zayed Iqbal Khan, Jatya Krishok Jote (National Peasants’ Alliance) Central Acting President Md. Nurul Amin Kaowshar and Joint General Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Fosi, Bangladesh Agricultural Labor Union General Secretary Zakir Hossain Razu, Bangladesh Bhumiheen Samity General Secretary Subal Sarker and Rafiqul Islam Pathik, Bangladesh Jatya Krishok Samity President Tariq Saiful Liton, Bangladesh Krishok Andolon leader Sultan Ahmed Biswas, Bangladesh Krishok Sabha General Secretary AAM Fayez Hossain, and Labor Resource Center General Secretary Shibly Anowar.

In the meeting unanimously adopted decisions are belows:

1. A committee consisting of 3 members was formed to draft the alliance’s goals, objectives, programs and charter of demands.

2. The date of next meeting was fixed up on 3 October 2020.

Badrul Alam

Meeting for a planning how to develop small peasant based agricultural business

On 16 September 2020 in the central office of Bangladesh Krishok Federation based in Topkhana Road, Dhaka a Peasants’ Agricultural Business Planing Meeting was held.

Presided over by Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation the meeting discussed on various possible income generating small agricultural business areas in working constituency of the organization in Kurigram district which is one of backward districts in country.

Among many options the organization decided to take up the goose raising and fisheries in the area. Based on all suggestions provided with by the participants of the meeting a written planning will be carried out soon for the submission to APFP.

The meeting was conducted by Zayed Iqbal Khan who is the General Secretary of BKF while vice-president Rehana Begum, Member Taslima Akter and Mili Begum spoke. Arifuzzaman Roni, central leader of Bangladesh Krishok Federation was contacted over telephone for taking his opinion about the planning.

Planning for a National Peasants’ Organizations’ Alliance

Today on 11 September 2020 we, some peasants’ and landless’ leaders, met together in order to discuss the present condition of peasants, landless people, agricultural workers and indigenous people of the country in such crucial period of COVID 19 pandemic.

We primarily emphasised the need to build an alliance prioritizing the interest of peasantry. This alliance will keep in mind in its policy strategy the positive aspects of the Vision 2021, Delta Plan, Perspective Plan, 5 Years plan of the government and SDGs of UNO.

They also discussed how to solve the salinity problem in the costal belt, water crisis in Barind tract and unseen Manga(periodical famine) as a whole in the northern district. The meeting also focus on the issue of communication with agricultural extension service department, special train for carrying agricultural products, push for land use manual, etc.

They stressed on the activities of national and international organizations which are taking into account the agriculture as one of the most sectors to eradicate poverty and hunger in the country.

Recognizing the necessity of an independent alliance the meeting said the stimulate package of the government declared due to corona time would be implemented properly if there is a strong alliance of peasants at national level. They made a list of possible peasants’ organizations which will join the next meeting. There are 12 organisations identified as components.

The next formal meeting will held on 19 September 2020. The meeting was attended by Badrul Alam, Zayed Iqbal Khan, Rehana Begum from Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Md. Kamruzzama Fosi from Jatya Krishok Jote, Subal Sarker from Bangladesh Bhumiheen Samity. The meeting was held in the central office of Bangladesh Krishok Federation based in Topkhana Road, Dhaka-1000.