Illegal pond digging on arable lands continues at Baghmara

RAJSHAHI, Mar 27: Illegal pond digging on arable lands has been going on unabated in different areas of Baghmara upazila in the district for a long time.
It is alleged that a section of local influential persons here are digging pond managing the administration.  Thousands of bighas of croplands were turned into ponds in different areas across the upazila last year.
Following this, Jalal Uddin, an advocate of Supreme Court has sent a legal notice to the upazila nirbahi officer last Thursday.
Talking to the Daily Observer, Jalal Uddin said that he also sent the same notice to the Secretary to Land Ministry, Rajshahi district administration and Superintendent of Police.
A vested quarter here is digging ponds on arable lands, managing the administration. They threaten land owners when they disagree to give their lands to the quarter.
Now the food security is facing serious threat; the number of cultivable is decreasing rapidly due to the heinous act, he added.
Recently, he has found illegal ponds digging at Balanagar under Basupara union, Annathoprar, Boilshingha, Dashpara, and Deeppur under Maria union in the upazila. It would affect our environment seriously, if legal steps were not taken immediately' he said adding that he would file a case in this connection.      
Agriculturists predicted that if no immediate measures are taken in this connection; the crisis of food will loom large in the region in near future.
Talking to The Daily Observer, Altaf Hossain, a land owner at Balanagar village of the upazila, alleged that he have not got money yet from the influential person who dug ponds on his arable land in the name of taking lease.
Nazrul Islam of the same village said that a pond was dug on his cultivable land without his consent.
On the other hand, due to digging of the ponds, the farmers of nearby land croplands have to face a serious water-logging problem as the canal has been closed. For the reason, a huge amount of crops would be damaged in different villages of the upazila due to the stagnant water.
Upazila Executive Officer Nasrin Akter said "We are trying hard to control illegal ponds digging here. But many people gave false information that they are digging ponds on their own lands after getting permission from the concerned court".
Moreover, many farmers were compelled to let out their lands for pond as local influential persons threaten them with severe consequences, she said, adding "We have conducted mobile court to control it, are still trying our best and more necessary measures will be taken in this connection".