Killing a river in name of fish cultivation
Fingers pointed at Muktagachha mayor who set up bamboo structures on the waterbody
The flow of the Ayman river in Mymensingh's Muktagachha upazila has been obstructed with bamboo structures erected for fish cultivation a year back.
This century-old river, a tributary of the Old Brahmaputra, has become narrow over the decades due to encroachment.
Locals alleged that a group led by Billal Hossain Sarker, mayor of Muktagachha municipality and secretary of the upazila Awami League unit, made two bamboo structures across one kilometre stretch of the river in Trimohoni area a year ago, where fish used to be cultivated.
After one harvest, they stopped fish cultivation, but left behind the structures in the river.
The mayor's men prevented villagers from using the river in the restricted areas, they alleged.
Within the bamboo structures, water hyacinth has grown densely, preventing anyone from crossing the river now.
Previously, people from several villages -- Poyarkandi, Mozati, Paika Shimla, Dowakhola, Goiraghat, Tarati, Sonapur -- used to catch fish in the river, but now there is no scope.
Joynal Abedin, 70, said once this river was a great source of water for agriculture and fishing.
Advocate Nazrul Islam Chunnu, convener of a citizens' forum, said these structures are in violation of environmental laws and will accelerate the river's demise.
Asked, Billal Hossain Sarker said he built the structures to protect the area from garbage.
All drains of the municipality fall into the river and cause pollution to such an extent that there is no scope for fish cultivation, he claimed.
Speaking to this correspondent, AKM Lutfor Rahman, UNO of Muktagachha, said following a recent report, the administration asked the mayor to remove the structures, but he is yet to act to this end.
The mayor told them that he made the structures to obstruct the spread of water hyacinth and he has not resumed fish cultivation. "If it is not removed, we will take legal action," the UNO added.
Md Akhlak Ul Jamil, executive engineer of Water Development Board, said, "A project worth Tk 46 crore to dredge the river has been approved recently and we will begin work soon."
Prior to the dredging, a survey will be conducted and no grabbers would be spared, he added.