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Potato farmers and traders of Lalmonirhat sadar upazila of the district blocked the Dhaka-Lalmonirhat for four hours on Saturday, demanding a halt to the increased cold storage rent in the current seasons.
The demonstration began at 11:00 am at Mohendronagor Bazer area. Hundreds of vehicles and others transport got stranded on both sides of the highway for long time.
According to the sources it is learnt that owners of the cold storage of Lalmonirhat suddenly raised the rent Tk 08 per kilogram potato as rent. While it was Tk 350 per sacks last year.
Shahinur Alam Basunia, a farmer of Monoram village under Mohendronagor union under sadar upazila of the district said that suddenly the owners of the storages rose abnormally without any reason. He cultivated 30 bighas of land last year. Now he will start harvesting. This year farmers could not recover their invested money as the price is lower than the production cost. On the other hand, the rent of cold storages suddenly rose by the owner which is not acceptable.
Mokshedur Rahama, President of Lalmonirhat cold storage association said that the rent of potato sacks yet to decided. Government formed a committee including the members of commerce ministry and Bangladesh cold storages association to fix up the rent. After discussion it will be finalised.