Krishak Bandhu Dak Seba to carry agro products to capital for free

The Bangladesh Post Office under the Posts and Telecommunication Division has launched a service called "Krishak Bandhu Dak Seba" to deliver agricultural products of marginal farmers to the wholesale markets in Dhaka for free.

Initially, the vegetables produced by farmers in Manikganj district will be delivered free of charge under this programme.

Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar inaugurated the Krishak Bandhu Dak Seba (Farmer-friendly postal service) from Jhitka Bazar in Harirampur upazila under Manikganj district on Saturday through videoconference from his official residence at Bailey Road in the capital.

Under the service, farmers will get payment for their products through a digital financial platform, which is supposed to provide farmers fair prices for their produce without any middleman.

Minister Mustafa Jabbar said postal vehicles, while returning to the capital after postal delivery services, will be used to transport the goods produced by farmers. It will not cost the government any money. The service will be launched across the country in phases.

Director of Bangladesh Post SM Harun-ur Rashid, Harirampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabina Yasmin, Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Zahirul Haque, Bangladesh Krishak League representatives, local people's representatives, business leaders and farmers' representatives were present at Jhitka Bazar during the videoconference.

Nur-ur-Rahman, secretary, Posts and Telecommunication Division, and SS Bhadra, director general, Bangladesh Post Office, were also connected with the conference.

On the first day of free transportation from Jhitka Bazar, the vehicle carried 1,200kg onions, 60kg green chillis, 60kg eggplants, 60kg bitter gourd, 60kg each of snake gourd, ridge gourd and potatoes, 120kg cucumbers and 180 pieces of sweet pumpkins. The vehicle left for Dhaka at 10am.

All the agricultural products will be delivered to Gabtoli Krishibazar and Meena Bazar Dhanmondi. Meenabazar, Chaldal and Parking Bazaar are buying all these agro products directly through the digital platform.