Grabbers' eye on govt pond

A group of influential people filled part of a government-owned pond in Mirzapur upazila recently.

Abu Sayid Miah, former acting president of upazila unit of Krishak League and former vice-president of Mirzapur College Chhatra Sangsad, led the earth-filling work on the government pond.

There are 6.56 acres and 4.65 acres of land in daag (marking) Nos 382 and 383 respectively, under Baoar Kumarjani Mouja on the south of the Mirzapur Bypass bus stand.

Around 1.56 decimals of land in 382 dag were acquired for widening the Dhaka-Tangail highway, and around 1.50 acres are private property. The rest of the land is government property.

Around two acres of land in 383 dag are private property, while the rest is government khas land.

There is a big pond on the government-owned land in the two dags. Some local people are farming fish in the pond after taking permission from the authorities concerned, locals said.

Sayid, who lives beside the pond, and his men started filling the pond about a month ago, locals said.

Asked about the matter, Sayid said he and 25 others were filling a part of the land in 383 daag after buying the land from its owner.

Being informed, Assistant Commissioner (AC-land) in the upazila Md Asgar Hossain went to the spot and stopped the pond filling work.

Sayid and his men, however, resumed the pond filling again on April 18.

The AC (land) said  getting direction from the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) in the district, they stopped the earth filling on Monday.

The people, who filled a part of the pond claiming ownership of the land were directed to show valid documents in favour of their claims, he said.

Those who filled earth on the government-owned pond will have to remove the earth from there on their own, otherwise, legal steps will be taken against them in this regard, the AC land said.

The pond is saving local people from waterlogging problem as the rainwater can flow into it, said Shahidul Islam of Baoar Kumarjani area.

If the pond is filled up, there will be shortage of water, if needed, to extinguish a big fire, said Station Manager of Fire Service and Civil Defense in Mirzapur Mohammad Kofil Uddin.