Farmers in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi on Sunday held a protest rally demanding an end to the fertiliser syndicate.
Bangladesh Krishak O Shramik Kalyan Federation organised the rally in front of the Tanore upazila parishad, where more than a hundred farmers took part.
Addressing the rally, the federation鈥檚 Tanore municipal unit president, Azhar Hossain, alleged that dishonest fertiliser traders had formed a syndicate in the upazila and were forcing farmers to buy fertiliser at prices higher than those fixed by the government.
鈥榃hen we go to the dealers, they tell us that the fertiliser they received through official channels has already run out. But if we pay extra, they can manage it through unofficial means,鈥� he said.
The speakers urged the authorities to take immediate action to break the syndicate and ensure fair fertilizer prices.
Among others, national award-winning farmer and self-taught agricultural scientist Nur Mohammad and model farmer Md Kefatullah spoke at the rally.
After the rally, a delegation of farmers submitted a memorandum with their demand to the upazila nirbahi officer, the upazila agriculture officer, and an assistant engineer of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority.
