Kumlai river in Dimla cut into pieces
Once mighty Kumlai river, flowing through different villages of Dimla upazila in Nilphamari, is now left dissected into pieces as influential locals have encroached on it at various points to build houses and other establishments.
According to ‘Nilphamarir Itihas’, written by local historian Md Nasiruddin, the river originates in marshy lands of Dhupguri area in India’s West Bengal and enters Bangladesh through Purbo Chhaatnai union of Dimla upazila.
Flowing 10 kilometres through the upazila’s four unions -- Khaga Kharibari, Tepa Kharibari, Gayabari, Khalisha Chapani -- the Kumlai later on meets the Nautara river in Akashkuri village.
During a visit to Khaga Kharibari and Tepa Kharibari unions yesterday, this correspondent noticed several brick structures, farmlands and even a government-funded road, which were all built by filling up the river.
In Dakkhin Kharibari Colonypara village of Tepa Kharibari union, a dirt road runs through the river. The local union parishad built the road two years ago with funding from rural infrastructure development program of the government to ensure villagers’ access to Dalia-Dimla Road.
Abul Hossain, assistant land officer of Gayabari union, said 15.82 acres of land belongs to the Kumlai in the union. Out of that, 4 acres were leased out to a fishermen’s co-operative society and the remainder has been occupied.
Sutibari Haat, the largest business place in the upazila, was seen sitting right in the middle of the river. There, years of unabated encroachment has made way for development of all sorts of business structures -- shops, markets, bus counters, clubs and even a kindergarten school.
To the west of Sutibari Haat, a huge rice husking mill and a house, both belonging to one Kazi Ataur Rahman, was built by filling up the entire width of the river.
However, when asked, Ataur said, “I inherited this property from my deceased father and I have all the genuine land documents -- mutation paper, land survey record of the government and tax payment receipt.”
“Perhaps my opponents misinformed you about it out of jealously,” he claimed.
Contacted, Dimla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nazmun Nahar said, “The grabbing of the Kumlai river has drawn our attention. We’ve made a list of grabbers and sent it to the higher authorities.”
Shahinur Alam, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Nilphamari, said a survey of rivers including the Kumlai is ongoing and once the survey is done, they would serve notice to the encroachers, asking them to vacate the land.
They would later launch eviction drives against anyone who would fail to comply, he added.
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