The two Santal farmers in Rajshahi committed suicide by consuming poison as the sacked Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) deep tubewell operator did not provide irrigation water for their land timely, police said on Friday. The police mentioned this in separate chargesheet of the two cases filed over incitement to suicide by the two farmers. It is mentioned in the case statement that Abhinath Marandi and Robi Marandi committed suicide for not getting irrigation water for their land. Also read: 2 farmers’ suicide in Rajshahi: Krishak League leader held The Investigating Officer (IO) Mahfuzur Rahman, sub-inspector (SI) of Godagari police station, said the chargesheet in the case of Abhinath Marandi's death was submitted to the Godagari Amli court on April 27. A chargesheet of the the case of incitement to suicide of Rabi Marandi was submitted on April 29 after investigation. He said the BMDA operator Shakhawat Hossain was charged in the cases following an investigation. Shakhawat used to harass the indigenous farmers by not providing irrigation water. He used to provide water to the people close to him, said the SI. Meanwhile, Rajshahi district police Court Inspector Abdur Rafique said the court has accepted two chargesheets. On March 24, Rabi, 32, a Santal community member of Nimghatu village in Godagari upazila, and his cousin Abhinath, 30, consumed poison in front of Shakhawat. They took the decision out of anger "as Shakhawat was not giving them a serial number for a long time to get irrigation water supplied to their fields in Iswarpur", according to their family. Also read: Rajshahi Santal farmers died after consuming poison, confirms autopsy Abhinath died around 9pm after reaching home on March 24 while Rabi died two days later at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH). Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani, director of RMCH, confirmed both the brothers died from consumption of poison. Later, the Agriculture Ministry formed a four-member panel to probe the deaths of the two farmers. Police arrested Shakhawat, who is also president of no 5 ward unit Krishak League, in connection with the death of two farmers on April 3.

A human chain was held in Nilphamari town on Saturday protesting the death of two indigenous famers by suicide ‘for not getting irrigation water’ in Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila. Jatiya Krishak Samiti formed the human chain at Chowrangi intersection of the district town in the afternoon. District Workers’ Party president Tapan Kumar Roy said two indigenous farmers-Adinath Marandi and Rabi Marandi- recently committed suicide in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi as they didn’t get supply of irrigation water. Shakhawat Hossain, irrigation pump operator of  Barendra Multipurpose Irrigation Project in that area, did not supply them with water and that’s why they killed themselves, he said. “We want the government takes necessary action to ensure exemplary punishment of those responsible for their death,” he said. Also read: 2 farmers’ suicide for irrigation water: Agriculture secy vows strict action District Workers’ Party General Secretary Abed Ali and Krishak Samiti member Bulu Roy also spoke. On Mar 24 afternoon, Rabi with his brother Abhinath Marandi, 30, took poison in front of Shakhawat Hossain , operator of a deep tube well operated under Barenda Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). Also read: Govt panel to probe Rajshahi farmers' suicides They took the decision out of anger as Shakhawat was not giving them a serial number for a long time to get irrigation water supplied to their field in Iswarpur while their seedlings were drying out, alleged the family. Abhinath Marandi died around 9 pm after reaching home while Rabi died at 8pm on the following day while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), said Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani, director of RMCH.

Strict administrative action will be taken if anyone’s negligence is found in supplying irrigation water to two farmers in Rajshahi who allegedly  committed suicide for not getting water for their land, Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam  has said. The secretary said at a meeting on implementation progress review of Annual Development Project(ADP)  at the secretariat. Read: Govt panel to probe Rajshahi farmers' suicides “Police are also investigating the matter separately and they will take action according to the criminal law,” he added. “We have inquired about the incident immediately after being informed. I had conversation with the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), Rajshahi deputy commissioner, Upazila Nirbahi Officer and other concerned and immediately formed four- member probe panel to investigate the matter,” said Md Sayedul Islam. Already the committee has begun their investigation visiting the spot in Rajshahi and it has been asked to submit a report within a week, he said. Read: Another farmer dies in Rajshahi after suicide bid ‘for irrigation water’ Regarding the onion import the secretary said the government has no plan to suspend onion import  right now to keep the price under control during the month of Ramadan, he said. “We consider both the farmers’ and the consumers’ interest while giving approval for onion import. Farmers are getting good profit now. However, the government is closely monitoring the market,” he added.

Another indigenous farmer who attempted suicide along with his cousin brother allegedly for not getting irrigation water for their land died  on Friday a day after his brother’s death. The deceased was Rabi Marandi, 32, a Santal community member of  Nimghatu village in the upazila. Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Rabi with his brother Abhinath Marandi, 30, took poison in front of Shakhawat Hossain , driver of a deep tube well operated under Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). They took the decision out of anger as Shakhawat was not giving them a serial number for a long time to get irrigation water supplied to their field in Iswarpur while their seedlings were drying out, alleged the family. Also read: Farmer, pregnant wife stabbed ‘by Jubo League leader’ in Narail Abhinath Marandi died around 9 pm after reaching home on Thursday while Rabi died at 8pm on Friday while undergoing  treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), said Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani, director of RMCH. Both the brothers died for swallowing poison, he told UNB on Saturday. Meanwhile on Friday night, Abhinath’s wife Rozina Hemrom lodged a complaint against Shakhawat for provoking suicide at Godagari police station, said Kamrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Godagari police station. Also read: Unsold surplus production, post-harvest losses for potato farmers amount to Tk25-35 billion OC Kamrul said Shakhawat has remained absconding since filing of the complaint. Meanwhile on Thursday, Shakhawat denied the allegation of not giving water supply to Rabi and Abhinath’s field when the UNB correspondent contacted him.