Farmers suffer because of a dam in Patuakhali
Farmers cannot cultivate aman paddy on over 250 acres of land at Dalima village under Baufal upazila in Patuakhali district due to water stagnation as an influential person built a dam on a canal two years ago.
Demanding removal of the dam, over a hundred local farmers formed a human chain standing in the water on Wednesday afternoon.
The farmers alleged that Mostafa Master, a former union parishad (UP) member, made a dam on Narakhali canal near his house, creating obstacle to water flow.
"We cannot cultivate our land as over 250 acres of land in the village is under stagnant water. We could not plant aman paddy for the last two years due to the illegal dam. It should be removed early to mitigate our sufferings," said Moslem Uddin Matubbar, a farmer.
Besides, local influential men Mokhlesur Rahman and Abu Talukder dug a pond on a khas land and it also created obstacle to water flow from the land, said another farmer Forkan Mia.
He suggested building a culvert on the pond to ease water flow for solving the problem.
Opposing the farmers' statements, Mokhlesur Rahman and Abu Talukder said they dug the pond on their own land and it cannot create obstacle to water flow.
Former UP member Mostafa Master said, "I made the dam on the canal considering the interest of locals. I have no personal interest in the matter but my rivals are protesting it."
When contacted, local UP Chairman Ibrahim Faruq said, "I have heard about the local farmer's demand. I hope that the dam will be removed after the Eid as I am suffering from illness now."
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