Farmers protest construction of dyke on croplands

Water Development Board (WDB) builds an embankment on cropland, removing soil by two excavators in Bara Sarundi area of Manikganj municipality. Photo: Star

Farmers formed a human chain in front of Manikganj Press Club yesterday demanding immediate steps to stop construction of an embankment on croplands.
Water Development Board is building the embankment in Bara Sarundi area of Manikganj municipality.
The affected farmers filed two separate cases with Manikganj Sadar upazila assistant judge court against Manikganj deputy commissioner, Manikganj municipality mayor, WDB executive engineer and Manikganj Sadar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO).
Visiting the area yesterday, this correspondent found two excavators removing  soil from croplands at Nayakandi, 100-150 yards away from Nayajandi Khal (canal).
Land owners Sharif Ali, Nehaj Uddin, Haruner Rashid, Taher Ali and others said their homesteads  will be under threat if the authorities construct the embankment at the site.
WDB sub divisional office sources said the authorites  have taken a project to build an embankment  between Tora and Dergram areas of Manikganj Sadar upazila. The work began in 2007-08 and a major portion (between Tora and Bewtha) of the job completed two years ago.
The WDB acquired 5.2 acres land in Bara Sarundi Mouza of the Manikganj municipality to construct the rest portion of the embankment. The work began recently and it is going on according to the design, they said.

The affected farmers form a human chain in front of the local press club yesterday, urging the authorities concerned to stop construction of the dyke. Photo: Star