UP member jailed for digging pond in cropland

A mobile court yesterday jailed a union parishad (UP) member for one year on the charge of digging a pond in his cropland at Laxmipur village in Natore Sadar upazila defying a High Court ban.

The court led by Executive Magistrate Tasmina Khatun also seized two batteries of an excavator from the spot.

The convict -- Abdul Baten Shikdar, 45 -- is a member of Laxmipur Kholabaria Union Parishad.

Later, the court seized four batteries of excavator in Chawk Amhati village under the upazila, said executive magistrate Tasmina Khatun.

In another drive, the mobile court seized two such batteries in Modonhat area, she said.

On May 12, the High Court banned digging of ponds in croplands in five upazilas of the district, following a writ petition filed by Lawyer Society for Law, said Advocate Jalal Uddin.

The decision came amidst the shrinking of croplands.