April 17 : Bangladesh (Dhaka and Gazipur) “Resistance grows in defense of seeds”

On 17 April 2014, The member organization of La Via Campesina, Bangladesh Krishok Federation(BKF), Bangladesh Kishani Sabha(BKS) and Bangladesh Adivasi Samity organized a discussion meeting in observance of International Peasant Struggle Day focusing this year’s theme slogan “Resistance grows in defense of seeds”. Presided over by Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the meeting was held in its Central Office based in Motijheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The meeting called up on the small scale peasants worldwide to build strong resistance struggle in order to protect, conserve and restore the indigenous seeds and genetic resources. The meeting slated the TNCs’ efforts to take over the peasants seeds which has been evolved since thousands of years. The meeting also put emphasis the strengthening of the Global Campaign on Food Sovereignty.

BKF President Badrul Alam said that the introduction and approval of Bt brinjal in Bangladesh is the wrong decision undertaken by the government. He also added the government should review the decision and reject Bt. brinjal for the interest of the peasants as well as consumers in the country. He told the meeting that the conscious people of the country should organically build strong resistance against the wrong decision of the government. Expressing his deep concern he said this genetically engineered brinjal seed would contaminate the local seeds and be more detrimental to the environment, soil and human health. Calling up the adverse impact of green revolution Badrul Alam urged the government to come up with a genuine national agrarian policy which will prioritize the sustainable peasants based agriculture including view of agro-ecology as farming method. He stressed as well a genuine agrarian reform for food sovereignty which would eradicate the rural poverty eventually.

(Gazipur, April 17, 2014) In memory of the massacre of 19 Brazilian landless peasants Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) and Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Women Labour Association (BAFWLA) jointly have observed International Day of Farmers’ Struggles declared by Via Campesina April 17th. This year they arranged several actions including a human chain, procession and rally demanding farmers’ right on seeds, to stop farming GMO seeds especially BT Brinjal, strengthen Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Govt. seed agency and ensuring food sovereignty rights of people through actual land and agri-reform. After human chain, procession and rally BAFLF and BAFWLA also organised discussions in BRRI Auditorium, Gazipur. Mr. Mahamudul Hasan Manik, vice president of BAFLF presided over the meeting while Golam Sorowor conducted the same. Ms. Hazera Sultana, Member of Parliament and also honorable adviser of Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Women Labour Association, was present as the chief guest at the discussion meeting. The discussants urged the authorities to fulfill farmers demands. They also added we should continue our struggle against Multi national seed companies and their local agents. Among others Nasrin Sultana, the Chairperson of BAFWLA, Mamun Hossain, Assistant General Secretary of BAFLF and others Farmers activists took part in the deliberation.