‘We want our land, not compensation’
In the pretext of increasing navigability and capacity, the Mongla Port authorities are dredging the Pashur River.
Many fear that the plan to dump sands on over 300 acres of cropland in Banishanta union of Dacope upazila will have a disastrous impact on the environment and displace at least 5,000 farmers.
Goutom Roy, a farmer of Dacope, believes he may not be able to cultivate rice next year as the government is going to take over 300 acres of agricultural land in his village, including his 50 bighas of land.
"My only source of income is now in jeopardy," said Goutom.
The excavation project at the Inner Bar of the Mongla Port Channel was approved at Ecnec on January 28, 2020.
Under the project, about 216 lakh cubic metres of soil and sand will be extracted from Pashur river. Due to the lack of land in Mongla, the soil and sand are being dumped on private lands of Dacope's Banishanta.
The port authority has already dumped sand on 700 acres of land in Chila area of Mongla under the Bagerhat district.
Although the project was supposed to end in June, it looks as if the authorities are just getting started.
Visiting the area, this correspondent saw locals protesting the move. They fear that once the port authorities take control of these lands, they will come for more, while different industrial groups will also try grabbing the remaining agricultural lands.
"I have 20 bighas of land that will go barren and infertile for years. Croplands, where sand have been dumped, cannot be harvested for 15 to 20 years," said farmer Hironmoy Roy.
"I don't want any compensation. I just want to cultivate my cropland," said Hironmoy.
Satyajit Gain, another local, said, "The Mongla Port authorities want to give us Tk 2 lakh per acre in 10 years as compensation, where we now earn about Tk 5 lakh per year by selling crops from the land."
"I have also received the requisition notice. I'm currently on the run as I have been threatened to give up my land," he claimed.
Meanwhile, around 1,500 families will be displaced if lands are given to Mongla Port for dumping sand, said Sudeb Kumar Roy, chairman of Banishanta Union Parishad.
"Port police have grounded red flags and sign boards announcing this illegal occupation on July 27, much to the dismay of locals. On August 5, a public meeting organised by Bapa, Bela, Brac, TIB, Action Aid and similar organisations, was held at Banishanta, where hundreds committed to saving their land at any cost," said the chairman.
Sudeb also said that the port authorities have carried on with this controversial move despite alternatives.
Bapa General Secretary Sharif Jamil said, "To dump the sand in cropland near the Sundarbans is not only impractical but also deadly for the environment. The decision was taken without any sort of survey.''
"Besides, any filling up land and setting up of industries within 10km of the Sundarbans is prohibited. Banishanta falls within that distance" said Sharif, quoting a court directive.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Talukder said the lands were handed over to Mongla Port following due process.
"There was no agricultural land in Banishanta. The claims of destroying agricultural land are baseless," said Mongla Port Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa.
He said the government is compensating the locals with Tk 7 crore for 10 years although the land will be under the port's custody for only two.
"There is no place to dump the sand on the east bank of the river due to the presence of industries. Besides, the project will create employment opportunities," he said.
Meanwhile, over a hundred farmers held a paddy planting programme yesterday, organised by Bapa.
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