'Spare agri land, dwellings from acquisition'

Several hundred people of Dhankhali in Kalapara upazila under the district formed a human chain at Kalumiar Bazar on Friday protesting the government's move to acquire their agricultural land and dwelling houses.

They sought the prime minister's intervention over the matter.

Over 3,000 acres of land at Pachjunia, Choilabunia, Nishanbaria, Devpur and Dhankhali villages in Kalapara upazila have already been acquired to build four power plants -- Payra power plant, Ashuganj power plant, Sena Kalyan Sangstha power plant and Rural Electrication Board power plant, each with 1,320 MW capacity, local sources said.

Recently Sena Kalyan Sanstha wanted more 1,000 acres of land for their project and local people became aggrieved over the matter.

Ismail Hawlader, a marginal farmer of the area, said he runs his six-member family by cultivating paddy and different crops including pulses, watermelon, maize, groundnut, sweet potato and chilli.

“At least three types of crops are produced on our land every year. If the government acquires our agricultural land, we will be helpless,” he said.

“Where will we go if the government acquire more of our three-crop lands?” said Khaleda Begum of the same area.

Contacted, Md Mamunur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (Revenue) of Patuakhali, said, “The ministry concerned has already given instruction to us about setting up of power plants in the areas and we are conducting works as per the government's instruction.”

Earlier on September 4, about a thousand people of different villages formed a human chain at Kalapara upazila town over the same issue.