Barguna growers worried as aman farming uncertain
Farmers of nine villages in Athorogachia union under Amtali upazila of Barguna are uncertain of cultivating aman paddy as their farmlands are now under water due to heavy rainfall and tidal surges, which cannot flow out as an influential local has kept the sluice gate on the Amtala canal closed.
Water cannot flow out from the agricultural land as the sluice gate on the Amtala canal is controlled by local union parishad (UP) member Mamun Sikder, who has engaged some fishermen to catch fish on the canal, he added.
Humayun Akon, a farmer of Sonakhali village, said aman seeds on his two bighas of land were destroyed due to the stagnant water. “We can't prepare fresh seedbeds as the land is still under water,” he added.
Md Ibrahim Akon of the same village, said, “We requested Mamun Sikder to open the sluice gate considering the interest of the local farmers, but he didn't listen to us.”
Over 100 farmers submitted a complaint to the Gazipur Police Station on July 22, demanding steps to free the canal, but in vain, he added.
Mostafa Gazi, one of the fishermen, said Mamun member asked them to catch fish on the canal.
Mamun Sikder said, “The canal was full of water hyacinth and I requested the fishermen to clean the canal. After cleaning, I asked them to catch fish there,” he said.
Md Harun-ur-Rashid, chairman of the local UP, said they will take steps to free the canal immediately.
Md Fazle Ali Khan, officer-in-charge of Gazipur Police Station, said they would take steps to clean the canal.
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