Faruk Rahman, Satkhira: Local farmers and locals have held a human chain and protest program in Dhankhali area of ​​Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira over the destruction of agricultural land in the name of canal digging. The speakers expressed their anger at the program held on Sunday morning at the canal dug in Dhankhali and agricultural land. They demanded a halt to the irregular canal digging, publication of the project design and compensation for the affected farmers.
While speaking at the human chain, farmer leader Jamir Ali said that they have to somehow support their families by cultivating in the saline coastal areas. However, their last resource, arable land, is being cut and destroyed in the name of canal digging.
He alleged that 40 feet of agricultural land is being destroyed while cutting a 10-foot canal.
Bhupati Ghosh said that no discussion was held with the local farmers before the work started. The main contractor has never come to the area concerned. Even though the people of the area repeatedly asked to see the designs and estimates from those who came, the concerned officials did not agree to show them. This further increased suspicion and anger among the common people.
Majid Sardar complained that all the injustices being done on the land of poor farmers, while the land of influential people was kept intact. He demanded a fair investigation into this inequality.
Rabiul Par said that most of the land in the area has become uncultivable due to repeated cyclones and salt water. The farmers had some fertile land in Dhankhali. If that land too is destroyed, the farmers will face extreme crisis.
Selina Parvin said that the damage done to the farmers must be compensated.
Enamul Gayen said that due to unplanned canal cutting, the rural environment is also being damaged along with the cropland. He demanded that the work be stopped immediately and a new plan be taken.
Environmental activist Madhav Dutta, who was present at the time, said that this irregularity of destroying agricultural land in the name of canal digging must be stopped immediately. He demanded that the project’s original design, estimate and detailed information on the cost be disclosed to the public and the work be carried out on the basis of transparency.
The locals sought the immediate intervention of the administration through the human chain.
When contacted over phone, Shyamnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamsuzzaman Kanak said that he was not aware of this. He asked to speak to BADC.
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