Extortion on buffalo grazing on govt land protested

BAUPHAL, PATUAKHALI, Aug 20: Hundreds of people formed a human chain on Wednesday outside the Bauphal Upazila Parishad over allegations that people are being charged Tk 200 per buffalo to graze the animals on government-owned khas land at Lalchar in Chandradwip Union.

They later marched through several roads in the town before ending the procession at the Upazila Parishad.

Local sources said Mainuddin, a former senior vice-president of Ward No. 9 of Bauphal Municipality Chatra Dal, began living in the Char Miajan area of Chandradwip Union after the political change on Aug 5, 2024.

Residents allege that Mainuddin began collecting Tk 200 per buffalo each month to allow the animals to graze on the khas land. They said about 478 buffaloes currently graze there, generating an estimated Tk 95,600 a month.

Buffalo farmers Rezaul Khan, Idris Dalal, Alamgir Hawladar and Saiful Sharif said they previously grazed their buffaloes on the land free of charge and without restrictions.

Razia Begum and Rozina Akhter, both homemakers, said many char families depend on buffalo farming for their livelihoods. They demanded action against those responsible for the alleged extortion.

Mainuddin denied the allegations. He said fishermen had dug channels in the char and buffalo herds had damaged many of them. He claimed local arbitration committees collected compensation from buffalo owners for the damage.

Mainuddin also said media reports about the issue were false and that local residents held a protest march on Tuesday in response.