Satkhira farmers bring Himsagar mangoes to market defying ban, accuse officials of bribery and bias

Ignoring the local administration's directive to begin harvesting Himsagar mangoes from 20 May, farmers in Satkhira have started bringing the fruit to market, claiming the mangoes are already ripening and falling from trees.

Traders allege that the delay is financially harming them and claim officials of the agriculture department are deliberately blocking Satkhira mangoes while allowing fruit from other districts.

The Sultanpur market in Satkhira was flooded with Himsagar mangoes today (14 May). However, farmer-sellers expressed frustration, saying the delay in marketing permission had caused them heavy losses.

The mangoes are currently selling for Tk1,800 to Tk2,200 per maund, while a few days earlier they could have fetched Tk3,200 to Tk3,500 per maund.

Rajab Ali, general secretary of the Sultanpur Kacha Bazar Samity, said, "The Himsagar mangoes are ripe and falling from trees, but the administration is still not allowing us to market them. If the authorities come to destroy them now, we declare that we will stop selling mangoes entirely. No mangoes will go anywhere in the country from Satkhira market."

Abul Kalam, organising secretary of the association and a mango trader, alleged that the Department of Agricultural Extension was intentionally damaging Satkhira's reputation.

"Since the deputy director is from Rajshahi, he is harming us. Our mangoes ripen first in the country, but others are being allowed into the market while ours are blocked. This is a planned conspiracy," he said.

Traders said that Himsagar mangoes from districts like Jashore are already being sold in markets, but Satkhira traders are facing restrictions despite their fruit ripening naturally on the trees.

While the district agriculture department said farmers can harvest mangoes early after obtaining a harvest clearance certificate, traders claimed that officials demand bribes in exchange for the paperwork.

"When I went to get a certificate, I had to pay a bribe of Tk1,000. Why must we pay to sell ripe mangoes? We demand the removal of the corrupt deputy director of the agriculture department," said mango trader Nuruzzaman.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Satkhira, Saiful Islam, said, "I am unaware that Himsagar mangoes have entered the market. Mangoes can be collected if ripe, but farmers must obtain a certificate from us. The official start date was set for 20 May."

Regarding the farmers' protest and the allegations of financial harm, he said, "This is not a wrong decision. We must consider consumers' rights as well. However, we will discuss the matter with the deputy commissioner and see if the date can be revised."

On the bribery allegations, he said he would comment on the matter later.

Regarding the early harvest defying ban, Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Mustak Ahmed said, "We have to consider the ground reality. We will change the mango collection date today."