'Punish khas land grabbers'
An alliance of 200 local and international non-government organisations yesterday demanded exemplary punishment of quarters who forcibly grabbed khas lands, depriving millions of small and marginal farmers of the country.
It also asked the authorities concerned to punish corrupt officials helping these grabbers and rectify the policy on agriculture input assistance, as many female farmers were left out of the scheme, says a press release.
The demands came at a dialogue titled “Farmers' Access to Common Resources and Agricultural Services” as part of a three-day programme at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), Oxfam and its global campaign on food justice, GROW, organised the programme.
Speaking at the dialogue, Ambia Khatun, a female farmer from Kushtia, expressed her dissatisfaction for not being issued an agricultural input assistance card.
Two other women, Bibhash Mandal and Kamala Rani Gayen, spoke on local movements in Khulna and Satkhira which led to freeing up rivers from illegal grabbing.
“It became apparent from the testimonies given at the dialogue that a section of corrupt officials are actively engaged in helping politically and economically powerful people in various districts.
“These officials help to prepare counterfeit documents so that common properties can be grabbed,” said CSRL member secretary Ziaul Hoque.
It was informed at the dialogue that, according to a CSRL estimate, most of the 50 lakh acres of khas and wet lands in the country are now under illegal occupation.
Dr Mihir Kanti Majumder, secretary of Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, said officials engaged in helping the powerful grabbers must be brought to book.
Lawmakers Hasanul Huq Inu and Shawkat Momen Shahjahan and Information Commissioner Sadeka Halim spoke at the dialogue presided over by CSRL Steering Committee Member Dr Ahsan Uddin Ahmed.
Comments