River leased as wetland!
The Gogalichera River flowing through the haor area of the district has been leased out by the local administration, showing it as a 'stagnant water body', much to the grievance of locals and environmentalists.
"Since our childhood we have seen the Gogalichera as a flowing river. But last year some corrupt officials changed its category to help a section of people occupy the water body," said Safran Ali, 45, a resident of Shahpur village under Juri upazila.
Visiting the river area a few days ago, this correspondent found that the lease holder made dams for creating obstacle to its natural flow.
Lease holder Akdish Ali, also president of Pubali Matsyajibi Samity, said, "I have leased Gogalicherra from the government. But local people including fishermen are preventing us from fishing there and so, I submitted a written complaint against them."
Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon's (BAPA) Sylhet unit, said corrupt administrative officials in 2006 changed the category of the flowing river to a 'degraded wetland' to lease it out to some local political leaders for fishing.
"An inquiry committee, formed following people's protest a couple of years ago, revealed the truth. But instead of taking necessary steps to reinstate the Gogalichera's status as a river, the current administration leased it out again. A river cannot be leased. It is illegal,” said Sharif Jamil, joint secretary of BAPA.
This is a unique example how corrupt officials make illegal things legal on paper for money, he added.
Juri Upazila Parishad Chairman Gulshan Ara Chowdhury said the issue will be discussed with the local lawmaker and administration officials.
Kamrul Hasan, deputy commissioner of Moulvibazar, said, "District and Upazila water body management committees decided to lease Gogalichera in a meeting. Whip Md Shahab Uddin, also lawmaker from Moulvibazar-1, attended the meeting."
Lawmaker Shahab Uddin, on the other hand, said, "I was not informed earlier about the official change of the category of the Gogalichera. Necessary steps will be taken to cancel the lease of the river."
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