Personal Correspondent: The internal Boro paddy and rice procurement drive for 2026 was officially inaugurated in Bogra on Tuesday morning amidst a festive atmosphere. Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha, Member of Parliament for the Bogra-6 constituency, attended as the chief guest and formally launched the proceedings by cutting a ribbon. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Acting District Collector Razia Sultana, while District Food Controller Kazi Saifuddin and Bogra Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Abdul Wajed were present as special guests.​For the current season, the government has set a combined procurement target of over 94,000 metric tonnes from the twelve upazilas of the district. This includes 17,781 metric tonnes of paddy, 72,602 metric tonnes of parboiled rice, and 3,811 metric tonnes of atap rice. Data from the District Food Controller’s office indicates that Shibganj upazila leads the procurement list with a target of 2,019 tonnes, followed closely by Sherpur, Nandigram, and Kahalu, while the target for Bogra Sadar stands at 927 metric tonnes.​The procurement will be conducted at government-fixed rates, with paddy priced at 32 BDT per kg, parboiled rice at 45 BDT per kg, and atap rice at 44 BDT per kg. The paddy collection drive is scheduled to run from May 7 through August 31, while rice collection from millers will begin on May 15. To ensure transparency and accountability, the authorities are implementing the "Krishoker App" for digital procurement alongside the traditional manual collection from farmers listed by the Department of Agricultural Extension. ​District administration and food department officials expressed high optimism regarding the success of this year's drive. They noted that during the 2025 Boro season, the district achieved 100 percent of its paddy procurement target and 95 percent of its parboiled rice goal. Officials believe that continued strict monitoring and the use of digital platforms will allow the district to maintain this successful trend and reach its full procurement potential for 2026.