ANTI-CLOCKWISE: 1) A large area of farmlands at Bhakla and Junikalsha villages in Shibalaya upazila under Manikganj district gets encircled with an embankment as a former union parishad member allegedly grabbed the lands in the name of a fish farming project, 2) the occupier engages an excavator to dig the lands, 3) land owners and farmers form a human chain on the cropland yesterday demanding immediate steps to check the unscrupulous act. Photo: STAR

Farmers of Junikalsha and Bhakla villages in Shivalaya upazila under the district formed a human chain on their cropland yesterday protesting a former union parishad (UP) member's alleged grabbing of their croplands to make a water body for fish farming.
Hundreds of people including women and children took part in the hour-long human chain from around 10:30am.
They said Abdur Razzak, a former member of Mohadevpur UP, started cutting earth with the help of an excavator to make a big water body for fish farming on 40 bighas of land but a large portion of the area comprise farmers' lands that produce crops three times a year.
Razzak, who has already made a dam on the lands, managed a few farmers by assuring them of giving Tk 10,000 each for allowing him to dig their land for the purpose.
Farmers Abdus Sattar and Ahammad Ali of Bhakla village, who have four bighas of land each in the area, said Razzak threatened them of dire consequences if they did not give the lands for making the dam.
Meher Ali Molla and Raham Molla also made similar allegations.
"My husband has three bighas of land in the dam area where we cultivate paddy, onion and chili every year. We will never give our land to Razzak for making a water body for fish faming," said Sarala Begum of Junikalsha.
When contacted, former UP member Abdur Razzak said, "I started cutting my own land with the help of an excavator to make a big water body. I have 27-28 bighas of land and took some land from farmers in exchange of money."
Earlier, the farmers submitted a petition to Shivalaya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) AKM Galiv Khan demanding step to stop the work.
When contacted, the UNO said, "After receiving a petition from locals, I visited the spot and ordered Abdur Razzak to stop the work."