Farmers in Gobindaganj protested on February 18, 2025, at Himadri Cold Storage, demanding the immediate issuance of booking slips for storing their potatoes.
The protest, which unfolded in two phases—first from 9:00 to 9:30 AM and later from 12:30 to 1:30 PM—saw farmers blockading the Dhaka–Rangpur Highway in front of the facility.
According to Himadri Cold Storage manager Mozammel Haque, the booking cards had been sold out based on the storage capacity. “The booking cards were issued in line with our capacity, and all have been sold,” Haque stated.
He added that the notion among some farmers—that booking slips were being withheld despite available space—is mistaken. “What profit would we gain by leaving the storage empty?” he questioned.
The controversy began after the authorities increased the rent and initiated the sale of booking slips on February 15. Farmers, who are required to pre-book their storage space by specifying the quantity of potatoes they wish to store, were taken aback when all slips were claimed within three days.
While they acknowledged the rent hike, the rapid sell-out raised suspicions over the booking process. “If there is space available, why were the slips not distributed fairly?” the protesting farmers demanded, calling for an immediate restart of the booking slip distribution.
Eyewitnesses noted that from early Tuesday morning, farmers had gathered at the main gate of the cold storage. Their discontent escalated when, around 9:00 AM, they were informed by Haque that no more booking slips were available.
In response, farmers blockaded the highway in front of Himadri Cold Storage Limited, halting traffic for approximately half an hour. The protest was repeated at 12:30 PM later that day.
Local authorities soon intervened. Gobindaganj Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Sayeda Yasmin Sultana, Upazila Assistant Commissioner Bhumi Asaduzzaman, Upazila Agriculture Officer Mehedi Hasan, along with Gobindaganj Police Station OC Bulbul Islam, Highway OC Mozzaffor Hossain, and Police Inspector (Investigation) Abu Iqbal Pasha, arrived at the scene. They assured the farmers that the issue would be resolved, prompting the protesters to lift their blockade.
While talking to Bangladesh Agriculture (BdA), UNO Sayeda Yasmin Sultana confirmed that arrangements had been made with the cold storage authorities to ensure that each farmer could store at least five bags of potatoes. The directive aims to address the farmers’ concerns and restore faith in the booking process.
The incident underscores the tensions between cold storage management and local farmers, highlighting broader challenges within Bangladesh’s agricultural supply chain.
Farmers remain unsettled by the rapid sell-out of booking slips and are urging for a more transparent and equitable system for accessing essential storage facilities.
