Mohammad Sohel, Cox’s Bazar : Three influential local figures have been accused of cutting through a coastal defense embankment in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar, late at night and installing 15 RCC pipes (NaSi).
The incident took place at around 11 pm on Sunday (August 2) in the Saratghona area of ​​Magnama Union of the upazila. Upon receiving the information, Magnama UP Chairman Yunus Chowdhury went there with the village police. At that time, they seized a special earth-cutting machine (excavator vehicle) and 15 stored RCC pipes (Nasi).
Chairman Yunus Chowdhury said, “Some people tried to install Nasi by cutting the embankment. After learning about the matter from the locals, we rushed to the spot. We stopped the work immediately. We spoke to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) on the mobile phone and seized the excavator and 15 Nasi. We have kept a village policeman there to guard it. The UNO has assured to take legal action against those involved.”
Locals said that Nur Muhammad of Harun Matbar Para, Manu of Lalmia Para, and Zahirul Islam of Saratghona were working on cutting an embankment with an excavator in the dark of night to install about 15 pipes or pipes (2 feet in diameter) in the Saratghona area of ​​Ward No. 1 of Magnama Union.
Locals also said that this syndicate of three is involved in the water business by cutting dams. During the salt season, they sell water from the Pratikani salt field for 3 thousand taka and from the Pratikani land for 4 thousand taka for shrimp ponds, earning lakhs of taka. The three of them are brokers in the salt trade. They have shown the audacity to cut dams by showing the thumbs up to the administration by using their influence.
Local experts say that this is a coastal protection embankment. A sea-enclosed defensive embankment in the Kutubdia Channel of the Bay of Bengal. If the embankment is cut and replaced like this, the coastal residents will be at extreme risk.
We strongly demand that the administration take legal action against those involved.
Cox’s Bazar District PAUBO Executive Engineer Apu Dev said that there is no scope for granting permission to cut embankments in this way on private initiative. To build a new sluice gate or water drainage path in any area, technical survey, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and PAUBO master plan approval are required. Moreover, as per government rules, any legal work is completed in daylight and under the supervision of PAUBO engineers. Cutting embankments in the dark of night on the pretext of submitting an application without prior approval is completely illegal. Legal action is being taken against those who illegally destroy embankments.
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) ASM Nurul Akhtar Niloy said, “The work is currently suspended. UNO sir will come from Dhaka today. Necessary legal action will be taken after talking to sir.”
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