Request for 6.5 Million Taka for Farmers’ Assembly Sparks Backlash

Staff Reporter

A letter seeking 6.5 million taka from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to organize a grand assembly for farmers, fishermen, and weavers in Kurigram has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism on social media.

The assembly, labeled “ambitious” by critics, has raised questions about its necessity and transparency.

Nahid Hasan Knowledge, the convener of the organizing committee and a member of the Bangladesh Shilpi Kalyan Trust Board, submitted the request on Tuesday. The letter surfaced online the following day, sparking heated debates.

Defending the proposal in a video statement, Nahid Hasan described himself as a farmer activist working for the issues in northern Bangladesh. He asserted that the assembly aims to protect farmers’ interests and accused critics of attempting to obstruct the movement.

“We have no ill intentions,” he said, justifying the need for government funding.

The assembly is scheduled for January 26 at the Safiul Alam Raja Stadium in Chilmari. Organizers anticipate the participation of over 100,000 farmers from Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Dhaka divisions. Two government advisors have reportedly agreed to attend the event, with Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar expected to inaugurate it and Farooq-e-Azam as the chief guest.

The funding request outlines a budget of 6 million taka for feeding 30,000 farmers, 50,000 taka for hosting 100 VIP guests, and 500,000 taka for stage setup and other arrangements.

Nahid Hasan defended the request as “legitimate,” pledging that funds, if allocated, would be transparently utilized and all expenditures submitted to the government.

Meanwhile, organizers are conducting promotional campaigns and collecting public donations across Kurigram’s subdistricts to ensure the event’s success.