Magura sugarcane growers are apprehending that they would not be able to enjoy the up comming Eid-ul-Fitr with families as mill authorities are yet to pay their dues.
Six sugarcane farmers of Shrikunthi village under Magura sadar upazila, nine of Chandpur viilage, 11 of Ghoramara village and 22 farmers of Shatrijitpur village under Magura sadar upazila supplied sugarcane to Modhukhali Sugar Mill last year. But mills authority is yet to pay their outstanding bill of Tk13 lakh.
Since then, farmers have been demanding their dues, but all of their efforts have turned futile. The mill authorities recently promised that they would pay dues before Eid, but it seems that they would not keep their promise as the Eid is within four days.
Taher Sheikh, a farmer of Shrikunthi village, said: “I supplied sugarcane to Modhukhali Sugar Mill about one year back. But mill authorities are yet to pay my bill of Tk10,000. Finally, they assured me that they would give my money before Eid. But the commitment has not come true. In this situation how will I celebrate Eid?”
Abu Taleb, another farmer of Chandpur village, his two kids were waiting for Eid dresses.
He said: “I thought that I would purchase their dresses with the money paid by mill authorities. But non-payment of bill has shattered my dream.”
Badrul Haider, farmer of Chandpur village, said imported sugar has flooded the market. Due to low price customers are preffering imported sugar rather than native sugar. On the other hand indigenous sugar is lying unsold in mill godowns.
“Consequently, mill authority is failing to pay our bill. But government is unwilling to impose ban on sugar import,” he said.
Shimul Mollah, a trader of Magura town, acknowledged that customers were preferring to buy imported sugar because of its low price.
Assistant Manager of Modhukhali Sugar Mills Rezaul Islam said sugarcane farmers in Magura were suffering due to non-payment of bills.
He said as sugar was lying unsold in godown, authorities have no way to pay the bills.