Bangladesh: A Dispute Over Cold-Store Rent Turns Violent in Rajshahi as Fuel Costs Rise for Potato Growers

A dispute over potato storage rent led to a clash at a private cold store in northern Bangladesh on 21 September 2026. The incident took place in Doulatpur, in the Paba area of Rajshahi district. Local newspapers published opposing accounts from the two sides.

According to the daily Prothom Alo, potato growers and traders went to the cold store to discuss the rent. The president of the district potato traders’ cooperative was injured and taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. According to him, he was attacked because he leads the campaign for a lower storage rent. After the incident, growers and traders blocked a nearby road in protest.

The cold-store owners give a different account. The Rajshahi Cold Storage Association held a press conference on 22 September. According to the association, 30 to 35 people entered the office of the cold store. Staff were beaten, and furniture, computers and a cash counter were damaged. The owners estimate the damage at about Tk 1 million (Tk 10 lakh). They named the president of the traders’ cooperative among the people involved. The dailies Ajker Patrika and Amar Desh reported this account.

The dispute is about the price of storage. According to the association, the Department of Agricultural Marketing issued a notice on 31 August. The notice cut the maximum rent for potatoes from Tk 6.75 to Tk 6 per kg. According to Prothom Alo, this maximum applies to private cold stores until 31 December. Earlier, the rent had been Tk 8 per kg, the traders’ cooperative said.

Traders and growers want a lower rent. They ask for Tk 5 per kg, with the first 5 kg in each sack stored free of charge. A committee led by the district administration recommended the same terms on 26 July.

The owners say that their own costs have increased. They name higher prices for electricity and fuel and higher wages. The association had asked for Tk 7 per kg but accepted the government rate. The manager of the cold store said that only the administration can change the rent. The local police said they will act if they receive a formal complaint.

Fuel is also becoming more expensive for farmers. On 21 September, the government raised the price of diesel by Tk 20, from Tk 115 to Tk 135 per litre, The Daily Star reported. Agriculture, mainly irrigation, uses about 15% of the diesel consumed in the country. A television report from Bogura said that production costs for farmers in the north may rise by 15% to 20%, depending on the crop and season.

Why it matters

Many potatoes from the last harvest are still in cold stores. Storage rent and fuel are two of the main costs for growers and traders. A conflict at cold stores can slow the release of stored potatoes and add pressure on prices. Our editorial team has asked the Department of Agricultural Marketing to confirm the official rent and the previous rate.

Photo: Potato field in Munshiganj, Bangladesh (illustrative). কুউ পুলক / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0