Economic Reporter :
Greater Rangpur Tobacco Farmers and Businessman Co-operative opposed the Finance Minister’s decision on closure the Bidi factory in the country.
The leaders of the association came up with the demand at a press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday.
They said if the Finance Minister will not shun his biased policy towards Bidi industry, he won’t be allowed to enter in Rangpur. Mohammad Masum Fakir, General Secretary of the association said, Bidi or Cigarette whatever it is, smoking is injurious to health. This fact is known to everyone, both are harmful. In fact, we can say Cigarette is more harmful than Bidi because it contains more tobacco than Bidi. So if you want to closure, close down both industries.
We are informed that after meeting with British American Tobacco, Finance minister said he will close down Bidi industry. How can this happen? We demand an investigation for why he has been working so hard to close down a homespun cottage industry.
He added that people of four district of Greater Rangpur depends on Bidi Industry. Did he know, how many people will be unemployed if the Bidi industry gets closed without creating alternative employment opportunities? Tobacco is the main cash crop of the region, so the area’s farming is based on tobacco based. The workers related to farming depend on the tobacco industry. Who work on Tobacco processing; also make their livelihood from this industry. So this regions development to survival is based on Tobacco Industry. This industry won’t be closed down so easily.
By saying Rangpurs survival depends mostly on Tobacco Industry he adds, the development of the people of this region is based on the tobacco industry. We won’t let close this industry without creating alternative employment opportunities for the peoples related to this industry. The farmers and workers will come to the highway if needed.
In the press conference, the co-operatives vice president Shafikul Islam Tuhin, Member Bikash Ray, Rubel Mia, Masud Hasan, Amzad Hossain, Milon Ray, Nitay Chandra were present among others.
Greater Rangpur Tobacco Farmers and Businessman Co-operative opposed the Finance Minister’s decision on closure the Bidi factory in the country.
The leaders of the association came up with the demand at a press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday.
They said if the Finance Minister will not shun his biased policy towards Bidi industry, he won’t be allowed to enter in Rangpur. Mohammad Masum Fakir, General Secretary of the association said, Bidi or Cigarette whatever it is, smoking is injurious to health. This fact is known to everyone, both are harmful. In fact, we can say Cigarette is more harmful than Bidi because it contains more tobacco than Bidi. So if you want to closure, close down both industries.
We are informed that after meeting with British American Tobacco, Finance minister said he will close down Bidi industry. How can this happen? We demand an investigation for why he has been working so hard to close down a homespun cottage industry.
He added that people of four district of Greater Rangpur depends on Bidi Industry. Did he know, how many people will be unemployed if the Bidi industry gets closed without creating alternative employment opportunities? Tobacco is the main cash crop of the region, so the area’s farming is based on tobacco based. The workers related to farming depend on the tobacco industry. Who work on Tobacco processing; also make their livelihood from this industry. So this regions development to survival is based on Tobacco Industry. This industry won’t be closed down so easily.
By saying Rangpurs survival depends mostly on Tobacco Industry he adds, the development of the people of this region is based on the tobacco industry. We won’t let close this industry without creating alternative employment opportunities for the peoples related to this industry. The farmers and workers will come to the highway if needed.
In the press conference, the co-operatives vice president Shafikul Islam Tuhin, Member Bikash Ray, Rubel Mia, Masud Hasan, Amzad Hossain, Milon Ray, Nitay Chandra were present among others.
