B.Mirror Desk: Local victims have formed a human chain and held a press conference in the capital demanding protection of agricultural land and houses in Kayetpara and Rupganj Union of Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj. They alleged that sand filling, road construction and future eviction are being carried out in various areas in the name of Jalsiri housing project without purchasing land.
On Friday (August 28), a human chain was organized in front of the National Press Club at 10 am by the initiative of the ‘Paitrik Vita-Mati Rakshan Parishad’. Later, the organization held a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity at 12 noon.
Convener/Member Secretary Ahsan Ullah gave a written statement on behalf of the organization at the press conference. At that time, Alhaj Abu Bakar Siddique, Rafiqul Islam, Sergeant Ilias Parvez, Abdus Salam, Ahsan Ullah Master, Lawyer Nazmul Islam and Lecturer Nur Salam spoke.
The victims said that their movement is not against the country’s army. They are protesting against land grabbing, sand filling and the fear of losing the homes of local people in the name of the Jalsiri project.
In the written statement, it was claimed that in 2010, an attempt was made to occupy about 7,000 bighas of agricultural land in 17 mouzas of Kayetpara and Rupganj unions without acquisition. At that time, it was also alleged that when the local people protested, they were attacked and a case was filed against them. Later, they claimed that a part of the three-crop agricultural land was occupied through sand filling.
The victims alleged that the activities of the Jalsiri Project-1 were started with the intimidation of the landowners and the cooperation of local influential people. Later, a boundary design was prepared for the Jalsiri Project-2, including agricultural land and residential areas of Kayetpara and Rupganj unions. They alleged that sand is being filled in various places without purchasing the land based on that design.
It was informed at the press conference that more than two hundred residents have submitted written complaints to the Rupganj Police Station in this regard. Apart from this, they also formed a peaceful human chain. It was also informed that more than a hundred complaints have been submitted to the Rupganj Police Station through the Assistant Superintendent of Police, mentioning the RS DAG number of the land.
It was informed at the press conference that a memorandum has also been submitted to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and the Deputy Commissioner on behalf of the victims. However, they alleged that effective remedies are not being found despite repeated applications.
It was also alleged at the press conference that the Ichkhali canal in Rupganj is being filled with sand. Locals claim that the canal has been used for navigation, irrigation of agricultural lands and fishing for a long time.
The victims allege that due to the filling of the canal, people in about 24 nearby villages are facing waterlogging problems. They demanded that the canal be quickly removed from the sand, re-excavated and made suitable for navigation.
Nine demands were made at the press conference, seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister. The demands include – stopping sand filling and road construction without land purchase, re-excavating the Ichkhali canal, publishing specific boundaries and maps of the housing project, setting up projects outside the homes and ensuring appropriate compensation and rehabilitation of the affected people.
