Onion traders and traders have suddenly stopped buying and selling onions in various markets of Baliakandi and Kalukhali upazilas of Rajbari in protest against the strict instructions of the administration to stop buying onions in excess weight. Hundreds of marginal farmers have been in trouble due to this.
Farmers who came to the market to sell onions on Tuesday (May 5) morning expressed their anger after finding the shops closed. Many of them returned home after waiting for a long time but were unable to sell their onions.
According to local sources, for a long time, farmers in the area were forced to sell 44 to 45 kg of onions instead of 40 kg when selling 1 maund of onions. This practice of taking excess weight is locally known as ‘Dhalata’ or ‘Dolon’. Recently, when the administration took a strict stand to stop this practice, traders formed a syndicate and decided to close their shops.
On-site visits to Baliakandi’s Bahrpur Bazar and Kalukhali’s Sonapur Bazar showed that onion warehouses were locked. Some farmers, including Abdul Hannan Sheikh, Abdul Aziz Mollah and Majed Mollah, who came to the market, complained that traders and warehouse owners were cheating farmers by forming syndicates. After the administration fixed the price at 40 kg, they stopped buying onions, resulting in extreme suffering.
Earlier, in a meeting held at the Baliakandi Upazila Auditorium on Monday (May 4), the upazila administration gave strict instructions to ensure the correct weight of various agricultural products, including onions. The meeting, chaired by Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Chowdhury Mustafizur Rahman, informed that legal action will be taken against those concerned if products exceeding the specified weight of 40 kg are accepted.
In this regard, UNO Chowdhury Mustafizur Rahman said, “A meeting has been held with farmers and traders and orders have been given to stop weight fraud. The issue of sudden closure of warehouses is being seriously investigated. Discussions will be held with traders again for a quick solution.”
Farmers are uncertain about the sale of onions due to the sudden closure of warehouses. It is feared that their financial losses will increase further if a quick solution is not found.
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