A large number of locals bring out a procession at Singair upazila headquarters in Manikganj district yesterday as part of their movement to prevent acquiring of farmlands for making a satellite town. Photo: STAR

Farmers of Gobindal, Azimpur, Noyadingi, Laxmipur, Bauntewri, Sahrail and Dakkhin Charigram villages in Singair upazila brought out a procession at the upazila headquarters yesterday protesting the government's alleged move to acquire agricultural lands at the villages to develop a satellite town.
Earlier at a press conference, Mazharul Haque Dewan of Gobindal village read out a written statement.
“We want the satellite town in Singair. But we are protesting acquiring of agricultural lands that produce crops three times a year,” goes the statement.
The prime minister had asked for making the satellite town in Dholla and Jamirta areas on the bank of the Dhaleswar River. But the authority is taking a move to acquire the agriculture lands because many government high officials bought land on the bank of the river, he said.
The farmers sought intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury to acquire land from Dholla and Jamirta on the bank of the Dhaleswari River instead of three-crop agricultural lands.
"I have 90 bighas of agricultural land there. Our families depend on agriculture. We will give blood but we will not give the three-crop land," said Shahidul Haque of Gobindal village.
Several other villages addressed the press conference.
On November 1, the villagers brought out a procession, held rally at the upazila headquarters and submitted memorandum to officials concerned demanding not to acquire their agricultural lands.
The following day, The Daily Star ran a report headlined 'Singair villagers protest satellite town plan'.
According to the report, Md Nurul Huda, chairman of Rajdhani Unnyan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), said, "A certain quarter instigated and misled local people to foil the government plan. Utmost care will be taken to keep the number of affected people to the lowest possible level and they will be compensated on priority basis. The town will be developed in light of provision of the Detailed Area Plan."
The government has taken up a plan to develop a satellite town on 1113 acres of land at Gobindal, Azimpur, Noyadingi, Laxmipur, Bauntewri, Sahrail and Dakkhin Charigram villages under Singair upazila of Manikganj district.