Faruk Magura Correspondent : Allegations have surfaced regarding various irregularities, such as charging farmers additional fees for water supplied from the Chitra River via BADC irrigation pumps in Gobra village, located in the Shatkhali union of Magura Shalikha upazila. On Sunday, July 20, at 2 pm, farmers Nurul Biswas, Iman Biswas, Shahidul Hossain, Humayun Kabir, and several others from Gobra village in the Shatkhali union reported that they are being asked to pay more than the price set by the irrigation committee, and that their land’s irrigation has been halted unless this extra payment is made. Furthermore, many farmers are unable to cultivate their fields due to insufficient water supply.

The farmers who lodged complaints also mentioned that since the BADC irrigation pump project was initiated, Saheb Ali and his brother Chan Ali Mia from Gobra village have been exploiting the farmers in the area by demanding extra payments. They further stated that in the past, Saheb Ali, along with his son Shakib and brother Chan Mia, have leveraged their positions as Awami League leaders to extract money from the farmers at will.When Ali, the proprietor of the BADC irrigation project pump in Gobra village, and his brother Chan Mia returned home, they noticed journalists present and promptly left the premises.Magura District BADC Officer Assistant Engineer Md. Fazlul Haque said, “I heard about Saheb Ali’s complaint and legal action will be taken after investigation.”