On 01/02/2017, a widely circulated Bangladeshi daily newspaper reported that 8000 tons of imported urea fertilizers are being damaged due to utter mismanagement of the concerned authority of Bangladesh government. Moreover, series of media coverage on the misappropriation of public funds and resources in the agriculture sector has been a matter of deep frustration. The evil impact of cartels, embezzlement of poor farmer’s money and government subsidies, misuse of bank loans were few of such acts that have been in media for last one week.
Comment:
Agriculture sector has always been the backbone for Bangladeshi economy; about 70% people directly or indirectly depend on agriculture as their profession. It has special significance as it combines both food security, which is one of the three basic needs of people, and internal security. Therefore, all countries with political vision tend to manage this sector with special care. However, we do not see Bangladeshi agriculture sector receiving due significance as it should get. The sector has reached to such a level that it is being looted everyday by the foreign and local capitalists under the auspices of the so-called democratic government. The farmers i.e. the actual growers of greeneries are being marginalized by not being paid fair price for their production in one hand, and their capacity of production is being restricted on the other. The ownership of all the elements of agro production – seeds, irrigation, fertilizer, and land etc. – are handed over to the multinational companies and local capitalists, leaving the actual growers as only labor slaves. Despite having one of the most fertile lands of the world, the onslaught of capitalists coupled with unscrupulous management of anti-people democratic regime has led us to the verge of security collapse.
It is scarily visible that our agricultural lands are shrinking due to unplanned industrialization and dwelling settlements. According to available statistics, the contribution of agriculture to GDP in Bangladesh has declined fast in last few years. Taking 2005-2006 as the base year, the contribution of agriculture and forestry in Bangladesh was 22.17 percentage compared to 12.41 percentage in 2013-14. The sub-sectors under agriculture have also seen a downward trend during this period. The contribution of crops and vegetables came down to 8.83 percentage compared to 9.28 percentage in the previous year. It is also an open secret that a large part of the entire fertilizer industry is controlled by syndicates. The government subsidies, particularly in diesel, are widely misappropriated or the benefits are diverted from the actual recipients. The festival of looting is also demonstrated in the banking sector. Bangladesh Agricultural Bank, the specialized government bank to support the agro sector, is suffering with loan default of over 8.5 billion. Despite having all the potential, such plundering under capitalistic manipulation is diminishing the sector’s indigenous capacity of supplying food to all of its citizens. This has also exposed us to serious internal security by reducing sustainability against aggression of the foreign imperialists.
Khilafah state will end all these injustices and protect agriculture from the clutches of the capitalists. Land will be returned to the actual farmers as Islam doesn’t allow anyone to hold an agricultural land for over three years if it is not cultivated by the present owners. Secondly, monopolization of agricultural materials will be restricted through abolishment of patent rights and hoarding. Thirdly, state should make available of the materials for the farmers, and ensure supply of diesel for irrigation at a price without any kind of profit. Finally, the Khilafah state shall remove all undue intermediaries and cartels to ensure fair price for the farmers.
The Khilafah state upon the method of the Prophethood, which is going to be reestablished soon by the will of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, shall restore the pastoral nature of Bangladesh, and not only make it self-sufficient in food, but also give it the honor of being a vast greenery for the Ummah again. This will provide the Ummah with self-sustenance and the strength to ward off all kufr aggression.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in Holy Qur’an:
وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً
“Allah will never allow the non-believers to have a way (sabilan) over the believers”
(An-Nisaa, 4:141)
Shirazul Islam
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Bangladesh