Remove brick kilns, save paddy lands
Paddy growers of five villages in Sadar upazila yesterday formed a human chain in the town, demanding compensation for their burnt paddies and removal of the brickfields adjacent to the croplands.
Following the rally in front of Manikganj Press Club, they submitted a complaint to Manikganj deputy commissioner (DC), seeking his intervention in this regard.
Among others, comrade Azharul Islam, comrade Arshed Ali Master and advocate Mostafizur Rahman Bishwas, spoke on the occasion.
The speakers alleged that paddy plants on vast tracts of land in five villages were either burnt or died due to emission of hot air and heat, generated from the nearby brick kilns.
The affected villages are Gokulnagar, Solandi, Airmara, Mitora and Baitora under Putail and Betilla-Mitora unions.
There are at least twelve brickfields in those villages, they said.
Farmer Tota Mia of Airmara village said he planted Irri on seven bighas of leased land and had already spent Tk 1 lakh.
But, all his paddy plants died due to excessive heat released by a nearby brickfield and he wants compensation for the damage, he said.
Meanwhile, Ismat Ali of Solandi village said paddies on at least five hundred bighas of land were burnt after one of the brickfields Diana Bricks Company dumped its hot burnt coal under the open sky on Saturday.
Another Ali Akbar of Gokulnagar village said they have been demanding removal of the brickfields, adjacent to the croplands, for long, but to no avail.
Manikganj DC SM Ferdous said after receiving the complaint he asked the officials concerned to take immediate steps in this regard.
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