Power tiller driver's unique hal khata draws attention in Natore

A power tiller driver in Natore has taken an unusual approach to collecting outstanding payments, using loudspeakers across seven villages to remind farmers of the date of his annual hal khata.

“Dear residents, Assalamu Alaikum. Happy hal khata, happy hal khata. The hal khata of Shailkona Hasan Bhai's tiller. Today is the hal khata at Hasan Bhai's house. Your presence at the hal khata is sincerely requested,” a voice can be heard announcing through a loudspeaker.

Such announcements are rarely heard on village roads. But Mehedi Hasan of Shailkona village in Faguardiar Union of Bagatipara upazila has taken the initiative to collect outstanding payments for land cultivation using his power tiller.

The announcement could be heard on Wednesday afternoon as one entered Nawdapara of Shailkona village. A hal khata had been arranged on the veranda of Mehedi Hasan's house.

There was another unusual sight. A loudspeaker had been tied to the top of a mango tree in the yard. The invitation to the hal khata was repeatedly broadcast from there.

A table had been set up on the veranda to collect outstanding payments. Packets of sweets were being prepared inside the house for customers. Anyone paying their outstanding dues was being handed a packet of sweets.

The combination of the traditional village hal khata with modern loudspeaker announcements has already drawn the curiosity of local residents.

Mehedi Hasan works as a power tiller driver. Despite completing his HSC, he chose agriculture as his livelihood instead of pursuing a job, following his father's profession.

Locals said Mehedi cultivates farmers' land using his power tiller in Shailkona and nearby villages, including Bhuiyapara, Nawpara, Satshail, Madhabbaria, Basupara and Kumarpara. He often cultivates land on credit to help farmers who cannot pay immediately. Farmers usually pay after harvesting their crops or when it is convenient for them.

However, many farmers gradually became reluctant to clear their outstanding dues. As a result, Mehedi's father decided long ago to organise a hal khata to collect the outstanding payments.

His father's initiative has now become a family tradition. Although his father has died, Mehedi has continued to organise the hal khata every year.

A hal khata was organised in July this year according to the usual practice. At that time, the outstanding amount was Tk 2.22 lakh. However, only Tk 53,000 was collected from farmers through the hal khata.

Mehedi then contacted the farmers. Many told him that they had forgotten about the hal khata.

Meanwhile, the outstanding amount rose to Tk 3,22,853. He therefore decided to organise another hal khata. This time, however, he did not stop at distributing cards. He arranged loudspeaker announcements in seven nearby villages to remind farmers of the date.

Abdul Aziz and Joynal Abedin, who came to pay their outstanding dues, said they have their land cultivated by Hasan and sometimes do not have money available at the time.

“We come to the hal khata and pay the money. This time, as the hal khata was announced through loudspeakers, everyone will remember it,” they said.

Mehedi Hasan said his father worked in agriculture and that he learned from him how to work with farmers in this way.

“I often cultivate farmers' land on credit so they do not face problems with money during cultivation. But the outstanding amount keeps accumulating and eventually becomes large. Some cannot pay on time, while others forget about the hal khata. So this time, along with distributing cards, I arranged loudspeaker announcements in seven villages so everyone can remember the date,” he said.

- MMR/MaT