DHAKA, May 9, 2020 (BSS) – Krishak Bondhu Postal Service (KBPS) was launched today aimed at free transportation of agriculture products of marginal farmers into the wholesale markets of capital city in this unwanted situation rendered by deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar introduced the KBPS of Bangladesh Post Office (BPO) at a video conference ceremony through free transportation of vegetables initially from Jhitka Bazar at Harirampur Upazila in Manikganj District to the capital city, said an official press release.
At this moment marginal farmers of Manikganj District can avail this service, but gradually the KBPS would be expanded to across the country, said Jabbar in the opening ceremony.
“Farmers can sell their product at fair prices without any middleman through KBPS and also receive money digitally staying at home,” said the minister.
The KBPS, he said, would not require any additional expenditure of government as BPO’s Dhaka returnee vehicles, which are being commissioned for transporting postal services across the country, would be engaged in this service.
At the first day of free KBPS, different vegetables including 1,200 kilograms (kgs) onion, 60 kgs green chili, 80 kgs brinjal, 60 kgs korolla, 60 kgs chichinga (Snake gourd), 60 kgs jhinga (luffa), 60 kgs dheros (okra), 120 kgs cucumber and 180 kgs sweet pumpkin were loaded into a vehicle of BPO to transport in capital’s Gabtali and Minabazar’s Dhanmodi outlet.
Minabazar, Chaldal and Parking Bazar are directly procuring these vegetables from farmers using digital platform.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directives and emphasize on keep running agriculture production to escape any shortfall of foodstuffs in country during and post COVID-19 era, posts and telecommunications minister said: “We want to play role in farmer’s endeavor as well as implement her (prime minister’s) directive.”
Jabbar said BPO is trying to stand beside farmers in this lockdown for deadly coronavirus by offering free transportation as these perishable vegetables are not possible to be stored for long.
Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Nur-Ur-Rahman and BPO Director General SS Bhadra were present in the ceremony at minister’s residence while BPO director SM Harunur Rashid, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabina Yasmin, Agriculture Officer Md Zahirul Huq and others were present at the other end.