Stop grabbing Rayer Khal

Farmers and fishermen of four villages under Barisal Sadar upazila, carrying ploughs and baskets for catching fish, take out a procession in the city yesterday demanding steps to save Rayer Khal (canal) flowing through Sadar and Babuganj upazilas from grabbers.Photo: STAR

Several hundred farmers and fishermen from Lakutia, Kashipur, Matasar, and Charbaria villages under Barisal Sadar upazila yesterday brought out procession and formed human chain in the city protesting encroachment upon Rayer Khal (canal) flowing through Barisal Sadar and Babuganj upazilas.
Carrying farming tools and baskets for catching fish, they assembled at Barisal Central Shaheed Minar in the morning and then took out a procession in the city.
After parading some city streets, the processionists joined a human chain in front of Ashwani Kumar Hall and also held a rally there to press home their demand.
Non-governmental organisations Prantajon Trust, Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) and Uttaran organised the programme.
Addressing the rally with SM Shahjada, executive director of Prantajon Trust, in the chair, the speakers demanded that the authorities concerned take immediate steps to free the 6-kilometre long canal from illegal occupation.
They said more than 2,700 families of fishermen and farmers depend on the canal for fishing and supplying water to about 1,000 acres of farmland, but a section of unscrupulous people are gradually grabbing the canal under the nose of the local administration.
The speakers also demanded re-excavation and preservation of the canal so that the farmers in the areas can supply their produces to Barisal, Babuganj, uzirpur, and Banaripara upazilas, using this canal.
Sultan Hawladar, Shah Alam, Khalil Kazi, Ripon Hawladar, Md Tuhin, Safiuddin, Ismail Howladar Akkas Hossain and Shawkat Ali Badal addressed the rally, among others.