Dakatia dying

The Dakatia River in Raipur upazila of Laxmipur is dying as some local influential people are setting bamboo fences, large net and other barriers by dividing the water body into segments for commercial fish cultivation.

Plying of all kinds of water transport has stopped due to the situation.

Earlier thousands of people lived by catching natural fish in the river but now large areas from Hajimara area in Dakkhin Charbanshi union of Raipur upazila to Laxmipur Sadar are under the grip of commercial fish farmers.

Locals said Shahjahan Mollah, ward unit president of Awami League in Dakkhin Charbonshi union, also member of union parishad, Jahangir Hossain Mollah, son of union AL president Abdur Rashid Molla, Mohammad Ali Mollah, former secretary of union Jubo Dal, and several other influential people are engaged in the business.

Shahjahan and Jahangir said they are cultivating fish in the river as transport in the water body has stopped and its regular flow got blocked due to creation of a barrier at Hajimara.

During recent visits, this correspondent saw that bamboo fences and large fishing nets were set at different places of the river in Dakkhin Charbangshi union, virtually blocking the river flow.

Ordinary fishermen in the area, deprived of the opportunity of fishing due to monopolisation of the work by some influential people, are passing days amid hardship.

Locals recently took an initiative to save the river but goons let loose by the perpetrators foiled the move, it is alleged.

Several fishermen in Mollarhat area said they are looking for other sources of income as they can no longer engage in the paternal trade due to the illegal fish cultivation.

Gazi Yar Ali, executive engineer of Noakhali Water Development Board, said, "Hajimara regulator under Chandpur Irrigation Project impedes flow of the river. I am trying to take a positive initiative by contacting the authorities concerned."

Silpi Rani Roy, Raipur upazila nirbahi officer, said she will take initiative to free the river.