Cancel lease of govt water body
Villagers demand in Satkhira
Our Correspondent, Satkhira
A group of musclemen allegedly led by Satkhira district BNP general secretary Rahmatullah Polash are trying to evict about 400 people from their homesteads in Baintala village in Assassuni upazila to occupy the 94.33-acre Cheutia canal (water body), the victims alleged at a press conference here yesterday. They claimed that the water body was leased to the BNP in 2006 by violating government's Jal Mahal and Chingri Mahal (water body) rules. Failing to occupy the canal in the face of resistance, he is now threatening and harassing the innocent villagers by implicating them in false cases, Abdul Hakim Mollah of Baintala village told the press conference held at Satkhira Reporters Club. Same other people of the area were also present at the press conference. In a written statement, Hakim Mollah said the Cheutia canal was declared a government property in 1984. The local administration leased the water body to Rahmatullah Palash in 2006. The local people then filed a writ petition with the High Court praying for cancellation of the lease order. The High Court stayed the lease order for two months. The case is yet to be disposed of, Hakim Mollah told the press conference. The Cheutia canal is an open water body and is the lone outlet to drain out water from several thousand acres of land in Bardal and Khajra unions in the upazila. The Water Development Board (WDB) constructed a sluice gate in the canal to drain out water, he said. But using his political influence during the BNP-Jamaat rule, Palash leased the canal for ten years by showing it a closed water body, he said. Following allegations by local people, Assassuni Upazila Nirabhi Officer Khan Md Nurul Amin conducted an investigation and submitted a report to the Deputy Commissioner on February 15 this year. In the report the UNO said the lease violated government rules on water body management and caused loss of revenue. He suggested that the lease should be cancelled in the interest of local people, Hakim Mollah said. In his report, the UNO also said that the lessee is violating rules by giving sub-lease to others. The lessee has divided the canal by constructing dams, which has blocked flow of water and causes flood in the area, the UNO's report said, according to Abdul Hakim Mollah. Musclemen allegedly engaged by Palash are now threatening the villagers to leave the area, he alleged. He urged the authorities to take steps to protect interest of the villagers and ensure their security. On Contact, Rahmatullah Palash said he leased the water body as per law and deposited the lease money to the government. He also refuted the allegations of threatening the villagers. "It is a conspiracy against me to tarnish my image", he added.
| 
