Sukanth Bikash Dhar, Satkania: Residents and the people’s representatives are angry that the Balumhal lease in Satkania was called for re-leasing, ignoring public opinion. An appeal was made to the District Commissioner of Chittagong once again, like in the past, to stop terrorist activities so that educational institutions and residences would disappear into the river. The local UP chairman and a freedom fighter and Awami League leader made this request separately on behalf of the local residents. To keep the local residents safe and risk-free, the residents of Nalua Union Ward No. 5 of the upazila have demanded the immediate cancellation of this lease. The local MP also recommended the district commissioner take the necessary measures to stop the lease process.
Chairman of Nalua Union (UP) Leyakat Ali Dolu River No. 4 Bali Mahal lease closure was suggested by the local member of parliament, Dr. Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi, in a written application to the Deputy Commissioner. In the application, he mentioned that hundreds of residences in Ward No. 4 and 5 have disappeared into the river due to sand extraction from the Dolu River. As a result of sand extraction, many families will become destitute due to the destruction of crop and agricultural land due to the destruction of the river bank by the flood water. There is a fear that the current government will destroy the embankment built at a cost of 300 crore rupees to prevent the erosion of the Dolu River and that various development projects will be useless. Law and order will deteriorate due to extortion, the spread of narcotics, and the creation of murders and destruction in the area caused by occupying, extracting, and selling Balu Mahal. There are many examples of such incidents in the past.
On the other hand, Nalua Union Awami League president Bir Muktijoddha Ahmad Miao filed almost the same complaint as the chairman to the Deputy Commissioner and appealed to the people of the area to stop the lease process of Balu Mahal-4 and take measures to get rid of the mentioned problems.
In this regard, Ahmad Mia said that if someone takes a stubborn decision ignoring local public opinion, legal action will be taken against him. I will complain to the Prime Minister’s office if necessary. Those involved in the process of re-releasing the closed Balu Mahal will not be exempted.
Talking to the locals and their various complaints, it is known that due to the lease of Balu Mahal Nos. 3 and 4 of the Dolu River in the past years, extensive erosion has been caused on both banks of the river. Many people’s houses and agricultural lands have been lost in the river. Many families have lost their only support and are sitting on the road. Apart from this, between 2014 and 2019, many terrorist activities took place with the occupation of Balumhal. Many were injured and crippled by the bullets. Therefore, the district administration canceled the lease of Balumhal Nos. 3 and 4 of the Dolu River last year in view of the long-standing demands of the local public representatives and residents. At that time, after the release of the lease notice, the local member of parliament With the efforts of Abu Reza Nadvi, the district administration suspended the lease of two Balumhals. But suddenly this year, the district administration published the lease notification for balumhal-4 of the Dolu River along with other balumhals. However, the lease notice for No. 3 Balu Mahal has not been published this time.
They allege that an influential local group is actively taking over the lease of No. 4 Balumhal. They have been extracting sand with the help of illegal dredger machines for a long time and selling sand worth crores of rupees. No one dares protest for fear of them. Opposing them results in harassment in various ways. As a result, extensive erosion has occurred on both sides of the river. Many houses have been destroyed.
Taking this issue into consideration, Mohammad Shahjahan, the leader of industrial group KSRM, has built a dam at a cost of several crores of taka with his own funding in the East Gatiadenga area to protect the homes of the local residents. At present, it is also under threat. Locals fear that Balumhal-4 of the Dolu River may be lost due to erosion. They think that the upazila administration has succumbed to the pressure or money of influential people without conducting an on-site investigation. Otherwise, the administration cannot take such a decision against the people.
In this regard, Chittagong Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Masud Karim said, “We have stopped the lease of many balumhals.” The district administration does not decide which balumhals will be leased and which mahals will not be leased. The district administration initiates and completes the lease process based on the recommendation of the upazila administration. However, since objections have been raised on the matter, we will consider them.
