The campaign is part of a worldwide protest against the unfair trade policies of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Speakers at the function accused the developed countries for using the WTO to have free access of their products in the markets of the developing countries only to destroy the agriculture and industrial sectors of the poorer counties.

"Though the developed countries are increasing subsidies to their agriculture, they are pressing the developing countries to withdraw agriculture subsidies which is injustice to us", they alleged.

They also suggested that the government should increase agricultural subsidies to boost production in agricultural sector. They alleged that the withdrawal of agricultural subsidy would seriously hamper the economy of Bangladesh, as the country is a food grain importing country.

The inaugural function of the Peoples' Caravan, organised by Annai Biswa Banijya Pratirodhe Gana Udyog (Peoples' initiative to resist unjust world trade) Committee Satkhira, floated by six local NGOs for creating awareness among the people to resist the anti-people treaty, was held on Satkhira Shaheed Minar premises with Ashraful Alam Tutu in the chair.

District Awami League General Secretary Md Nazrul Islam, Prof Abu Ahmed, Mahidul Haque, Principal Ashek E Elahi, Head Master Ashraf Ali Siddique, District NAP General Secretary Kazi Saidur Rahman, Krishak Sangram Samity Central Vice President Saifullah Laskar, District Krishak League General Secretary Monzur Hossain, Advocate Dilip Kumar Dev, Sheikh Harun Ur Rashid, Mahmud Ali Suman, M Shushanta and Jahangir Kabir Rana addressed the inaugural function.

'Millions of workers are being unemployed in the developing countries as the developed countries are forcing the governments of the developing nations to shut down their industrial units', they alleged.

'The developed countries are setting several conditions and imposing duties of the products produced in the developing countries to hinder the easy access to their countries. On the other hand they are pressing the developing countries to withdraw the import duty of the products produced in those developed countries', they alleged.

They urged the government to finalise a comprehensive strategy for negotiations in the upcoming WTO ministerial meeting to gain maximum benefits from the process.

The exporting countries enjoy around 25 to 40 percent price advantage as the producers there get more domestic support and export subsidy leaving countries like Bangladeshi farmers at bay, they said.

They also noted with concern that the WTO was contributing to widen the gap between the rich and the poor and urged the government to raise the issue at the WTO ministerial meeting. It will increase Bangladesh's over all import cost and put pressure on the balance of payment, they said.

The speakers asked the government to take strong stand at the upcoming WTO meeting for reviving food aid to the Least Developing Countries (LDCs) as well as duty and quota free access of their goods to the developed counties. They also urged the government not to sign the anti people treaty.

The Peoples' Caravan was organised as part of a series of programmes ahead of the WTO Hong Kong ministerial meeting to be held in December 13 to 18 for creating awareness among the people.

The Peoples' Caravan crossing Jessore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Madaripur, Gopalgang and adjoining districts will reach Dhaka on December 5 where a grand rally will be held.