Nearly 40 farmers have staged a desperate press conference in Ghoraghat, Dinajpur, accusing a local trader of withholding approximately 35 lakh BDT in unpaid dues for maize sales, leaving their families in severe financial distress.
The press conference was held on Wednesday afternoon (September 15) at the upazila premises by the aggrieved farmers. According to their written statement, the farmers had sold their harvested maize to local trader Md. Shamsuzzaman Manik. Although the agreement stipulated that payments would be cleared within seven days of delivery, months have passed without settling the dues.
The farmers alleged that Manik stored their maize in his warehouse for nearly four and a half months. When payments were repeatedly delayed, Manik reportedly sold off the entire stock across eight trucks without the farmers' knowledge. Though he subsequently asked for a one-month extension and then an additional 15 days, those deadlines also lapsed without any payment.
With approximately 35 lakh BDT trapped, the farmers are struggling to manage household expenses or finance upcoming farming seasons for seeds, fertilizers, and land preparation. Having exhausted all other avenues, they have urgently appealed to the upazila administration and local leaders for immediate intervention. Efforts to reach the accused trader, Md. Shamsuzzaman Manik, via phone were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Hili (Dinajpur) Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
