Mizbaul Haque, Chakria: In Sabuj Bagh area of Chakria municipality of Cox’s Bazar, there has been a complaint of encroaching the place of the drain under construction for the construction of private house roads. With the connivance of a local encroaching gang, a returnee named Russell defiantly defied the notices of the local people and the municipality and constructed the road by narrowing the drainage channel recently.
Local residents have complained that at least 5000 families in the surrounding area besides the Sabuj Bagh area of the municipality have become unoccupied due to the lack of drainage space for water movement. Mas Ud Morshed, Secretary of Chakaria Municipality, has admitted the truth of the incident.
He said that at that point in the occupied Sabuj Bagh area, modern drain construction is underway as per the design determined by Chakaria Municipality. Meanwhile, the drain construction work has been completed in the area from Phultala Swapnapuri Club Lagoa Bridge to Sabuj Bagh Mosque intersection in the east. Drain construction work will be started in the remaining area under the ongoing development project. In the meantime, a local named Russell occupied the place of the drain under construction by the municipality for water drainage and made a way to his house by throwing sacks of earth there.
He also said that officials of the concerned department of Chakaria Municipality visited the spot after learning about the matter. Later on the order of Chakaria Municipality Mayor Alamgir Chowdhury, the accused Russell was given two notices by the municipality not to do any work there. Also, the office people are prohibited from going directly to the spot and filling the drains.
The municipal secretary also said that the accused person named Russell, in the last two days, took possession of the water drainage drain alley by disobeying the municipality mayor Alamgir Chowdhury’s instructions and the municipality’s notice to make way for his home.
The local residents said that around Subjabagh area of Ward No. 4 of Chakaria Municipality, Chakaria Residential Women’s Degree College, Chakaria Korak Vidyapeeth, Chakaria Government Girls’ School, Chakaria Upazila Government Hospital in the eastern part of Chakaria Upazila Government Hospital, etc. through
Also, the daily sewage of thousands of families in Hospital Para, Khodarkum, Chakaria Fire Service area of Ward No. 4 of the municipality has been flowing over the drain for a long time.
The local people of Sabuj Bagh area complained that the drainage area of the municipality has been narrowed due to the construction of the road by encroaching on the drainage channel of the municipality. Due to this, water movement will stop during the monsoon season and the entire Sabuj Bagh area will be submerged in water in the future. In this situation, besides Sabuj Bagh, Chakaria Women’s Degree College, Chakaria Korak Vidyapeeth, Chakaria Government Girls High School area, at least five thousand families in the surrounding areas are feared to suffer due to waterlogging.
Chakria Upazila Executive Officer JP Dewan, Chakria Municipality Mayor Alamgir Chowdhury, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Chakaria Circle) Mohammad for the people of Sabuj Bagh and surrounding areas to immediately occupy the place of the drain and cut the constructed road and restore the place to its original condition and keep the water drainage open. Tafiqul Alam and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chakaria Police Station Chandan Kumar Chakraborty and sought the cooperation of journalists.
Alamgir Chowdhury, Mayor of Chakaria Municipality, said that after receiving information about the construction of a private house road in Sabuj Bagh area, he sent the officials of the concerned department to the spot. They went there and prevented the cycle involved in narrowing the course of drainage. Also two notices have been given by the municipality to stop the filling work.
Mayor Alamgir Chowdhury said, since they have occupied the drain area by violating the notice and ban of the municipality, now measures will be taken by the municipality to evacuate the illegal structures and keep the water drainage channel running.
Chakaria upazila executive officer JP Dewan said that any act against public interest is legally illegal. How logical it is to build a road for private houses by encroaching on the water drainage channel leaving the people suffering in that place.
He said that the upazila administration will play a positive role against all activities against public interest. Similarly, Chakaria Municipality will be given all kinds of support in eviction of the structure built at the place of the drain in Sabuj Bagh area.
