Introduction

The year 2024 marked a significant period for the Bangladesh Krishok Federation (BKF, male members) and the Bangladesh Kishani Sabha (BKS, women members) as their continued to champion the rights of small and marginal farmers, landless peasants, and climate-vulnerable communities. Against the backdrop of climate challenges, rising food prices, inflation and evolving political dynamics, BKF-BKS demonstrated resilience, solidarity, and innovation in its mission to secure land, food sovereignty, and climate justice.

Landless families and supporters, May 5, 2024, Dashmina Upazila of Patuakhali District.

 Organizational Focus in 2024

This year, BKF-BKS focused on four key strategic areas:

1.Land Rights and Agrarian Reform

2.Climate Justice and Adaptation

3.Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture

4.Grassroots Mobilization and Advocacy

 Highlights and Key Achievements

1.⁠ ⁠Land Rights and Agrarian Reform

BKF-BKS intensified their long-standing struggle for land reform, organizing 40 land occupation and redistribution campaigns in coastal and floodplain districts such as Khulna, Satkhira, Bhola, Patuakhali and Barishal. Approximately 1,050 landless families were successfully settled on fallow Khasland (sandy alluvial land which emerged from the river bed long ago. Now it is livable and arable. There are no particular private ownership of this land. However, the government is the custodian of this type of land).

Legal aid and training were provided to 600 landless farmers. Collaborated with local administrations to resolve 9 land disputes peacefully.

On 21 October 2024, a rally, human chain and procession were held in front of Dhaka National Press Club in the context of World Food Day, demanding the people’s rights to food, land and water.

2.⁠ ⁠Climate Justice and Community Resilience

As a frontline climate justice movement, BKF-BKS organized several campaigns to highlight the voice of vulnerable farming communities:

• Hosted the Peoples Climate Assemblies in Barishal, Patuakhali and Dhaka with participation from 900 farmers, women, and youth each.

• Partnered with international networks such as APMDD and Climate Justice Now! for global advocacy.

3.⁠ ⁠Promotion of Agroecology

BKF-BKS’s agroecology program expanded significantly in 2024, with over 3,000 farmers trained in organic and traditional seed practices.

We established 20 new agroecology learning centers across 12 districts and introduced a farmer-led seed bank system, preserving over 65 indigenous rice varieties.

We reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides by 20% in participating villages.

4.⁠ ⁠Women’s Leadership and Youth Involvement

Women’s committees now represent 41% of BKF-BKS’s local leadership, a historic high.

We launched the “Youth for Food Sovereignty” group empowering 120 rural youth with leadership and organizing skills.

Represented 3 regional forums on gender, land, and climate intersecting issues.

 Advocacy and Alliances

BKF-BKS continued its advocacy with both the national government and international allies:

Submitted policy recommendations on agrarian reform to the Ministry of Land and Ministry of Agriculture.

• Actively participated in the UN Climate Summit (COP29).

• Strengthened partnerships with people’s organizations, pro-people NGOs, progressive academic institutions, and civil society platforms.

Rally, 23 November 2024, in front of Ashwini Kumar Town Hall under the initiative of the Barisal District Unit of Bangladesh Krishok Federation and Bangladesh Kishani Sabha with 5-point demands including identification of Khas land, settlement of Khas land among the landless people, cancellation of fake settlements, preparation of a list of genuine landless people, and activation of the Agricultural Khas Land Management and Settlement Committee. After the rally, a protest procession with slogans circled various roads of the city.

 Challenges Faced

Despite these successes, BKF-BKS encountered significant challenges:

• Political tension and threats against peasant leaders during local elections.

• Climate shocks, including unseasonal floods and cyclones, disrupted organizing activities.

• Rising input costs and market exploitation posed economic burdens for smallholder farmers.

Relief work on 7 September, 2024 in Comilla district. The area is so remote that other quarters hardly reached there with relief.

 Financial Overview

BKF-BKS operated on a significant budget, sourced from membership contributions, solidarity networks, and project-based grants and from ESSF.

Finance was mostly used for programs, legal cases, health treatment, medication, support for disaster affected people, support to poor members during their annual festival [Eid-ul- Fitr, the biggest Muslim religious at the end of the Ramadan]. ESSF’s support was substantial in this respect.

Strict financial accountability and internal auditing processes ensured transparency.

 Looking Ahead: Vision for 2025

BKF-BKS plans to:

• Expand its agroecology program to cover 5,000 more farmers.

• Intensify national campaigns for a People’s Land Commission.

• Launch a Rural Agroecological Leadership School.

• Deepen engagement with digital organizing and youth mobilization tools.

• National campaign on tax justice issue.

• Campaign on climate justice and food sovereignty

• Campaign on seed sovereignty and peasant women’s right.

• Campaign on Environment and indigenous communities.

• Highlight the peasant women’s right.

Shamsunnahar Khan Doli speaking in the rally held in front of National Press club in Dhaka on 13 December 2024 on land and climate issues.

 Conclusion

In 2024, Bangladesh Krishok Federation and Bangladesh Kishani Sabha reaffirmed their role as a dynamic force in the struggle for agrarian justice, food sovereignty, and climate resilience. The organization’s work continues to inspire solidarity across borders, drawing strength from its grassroots base and a bold vision for a just, equitable rural future.

In fine Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Bangladesh Kishani Sabha, and their allied organization warmly thank all individual donors who have been contributing to our activities through ESSF. We are pleased to say that we received 13.500 Euros for the year 2024 for natural disaster management, conducting of legal cases filed against landless activists, medical treatment support to injured activists, different campaigns, etc.

Badrul Alam
President
Bangladesh Krishok Federation (BKF)

Sabina Yasmin
General Secretary
Bangladesh Kishani Sabha (BKS)

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