'New list a disaster for residents'

Leaders of Basatbhita Rokkha Committee at a press conference yesterday reiterated their demand for a fair list of the land to be acquired for divisional development activities.

They said they want development of Mymensingh division but the fresh list of acquisition of 4,366 acres of land in Sadar upazila will bring disaster for the residents of seven villages. The implementation of the list means a 'gross violation of human rights, they said.

The proposed acquisition area includes vast tracts of farmlands and homesteads in Char Anandipur, Char Gobindapur, Char Ishwardia, Char Bhawanipur, Char Durgapur, Char Jelkhana and Char Laxmir Algi where most of the people are small and marginal farmers and sharecroppers, they said.

They said the administration made a new list of 4,366 acres of land, cancelling the old list of 1,220 acres.

Urging the administration to use khas lands and lowlands on the banks of the Brahmaputra river, the leaders said they should implement the first phase covering 1,220 acres of land.

They said the new land acquisition would affect around 60,000 people of 17,000 families, 481 family graveyards, 30 primary schools, three high schools, 47 mosques, four temples, six eidgah grounds and other establishments.

They said the residents cannot sell their lands as they are in the acquisition list.

District President of Communist Party of Bangladesh advocate Emdadul Haque Millat, former Sadar upazila Chairman Fayzur Rahman Fakir and district Mahila Parishad President Ferdous Ara Mahmuda Helen were present at the press conference.