S.M. Osman Goni Sohag from Shymnagar Satkhira
A human chain was organized in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, demanding a reduction in the use of chemical and harmful pesticides in agriculture.
The demonstration was held recently in front of the Shyamnagar Press Club, organized by the Green Coalition, BARCIK, and the Shyamnagar Upazila Volunteer Association. Farmers, women farmers, students, women organizers, and people from various professions participated in the event.
Chaired by senior journalist Afzalur Rahman, advisor to the Green Coalition’s Shyamnagar Municipality Unit, speakers included Shyamnagar Press Club General Secretary S.M. Mostafa Kamal, Reporters Club General Secretary Md. Yasin Arafat, BARCIK Associate Regional Coordinator Ramkrishna Joardar, Green Coalition Shyamnagar Municipality Unit General Secretary Kiran Shankar Chatterjee, Ishwaripur Unit President Zillur Rahman, Munshiganj Unit President Dr. Jogesh Mondal, Shyamnagar Upazila Volunteer Association President Saifuddin Siddiq, Vice President Mominur Rahman, Sharub Youth Team volunteer Jeba Tasnia, and farmer Debiranjan Mondal, among others.
Speakers of the event said that the indiscriminate use of pesticides is poisoning agriculture and entire ecosystem. Due to careless application, farmers’ health is at greatest risk, fish in ponds are being destroyed, livestock are dying, and pesticide-grown crops are making people’s lives unsafe. They emphasized that controlling pesticide use and restricting easy access to toxic substances has become an urgent necessity.
The speakers called for the promotion of alternative, environment friendly pest control methods and organic farming practices. They also demanded regulation of harmful pesticide sales, a ban on marketing substandard pesticides, ensuring protective gear for farmers, training on organic agriculture, and coordinated government and non-government initiatives to guarantee the right to safe, poison-free food.
