District Correspondent, Sylhet
The haor is now brimming with Boro paddy. Farmers will harvest this golden crop, grown with sweat and toil, and store it in their granaries during the Bengali month of Boishakh. Amidst the lives and livelihoods of millions dependent on the haor, a road construction project is cutting through its heart. In Shanthiganj Upazila’s Sanghai Haor of Sunamganj, a 4-kilometer-long road is being built. However, farmers have not been compensated for the land, let alone for the paddy being destroyed, nor has anyone deemed it necessary to inform them.
Farmers and environmentalists argue that building a road through the middle of the haor will result in significant damage to nature and the environment, including the loss of a vast amount of arable land. During the monsoon, natural water flow will be obstructed, leading to waterlogging upstream. This devastation to the haor is taking place right under the administration’s watch.
According to the Upazila administration, the road is part of a special project by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. The construction cost has been estimated at approximately 40 million BDT, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A Dhaka-based contractor, JB Innovation, is implementing the project. Work began last year but was halted when water inundated the area. This year, after a few days of work, excavators are cutting through farmland, destroying the crops.
Upon visiting the site, it was observed that the road would connect Dongria village on the eastern bank to Hasnabad village on the western bank, cutting through the heart of the haor. The project was reportedly initiated based on the personal desire of former Planning Minister MA Mannan. Dongria is his home village. The agricultural land in this part of the haor belongs to the farmers of Dongria, Hasnabad, and Jamalabaj villages, while the land to the north belongs to farmers from Uzanigaon, Mirzapur, and Fatehpur villages.
The road construction is destroying paddy plants in the fields. Excavators are digging up soil from the farmland and using it to elevate the road on-site. The road construction, along with the excavation creating canal-like structures on both sides, is destroying about 100 feet of farmland in width.
Local farmers said they opposed the work when it began last year. Later, local Awami League leaders took them to MA Mannan’s residence. At that time, he directed the contractors to pay the farmers some money as compensation for the crops. Last year, Awami League members exerted their influence on behalf of the contractors. Though the Awami League is no longer in power, others have now joined forces.
Tareef Mia (70), a local farmer, owns about 4 acres of land in the Sanghai Haor. Due to the road construction and excavation, over an acre of his land has been destroyed. He said, “Nobody asked for our consent before building the road. Even now, no one says anything to us. Our land is gone, and so is our paddy.” Another farmer, Selim Mia (55), added, “We depend on this haor land. Not only is land being taken for the road, but more land is also being destroyed due to the soil excavation.”
Ashraf Uddin, who oversees the excavation work, said they are working as a team of four under the contractor. He claimed that a list has been prepared to compensate the farmers for the damage to their crops. Murad Ahmed, an engineer representing the contracting company, stated that land acquisition for the road or using farmland soil was arranged after discussions between MA Mannan and the farmers.
Shantiganj Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Jahangir Alam said there is no allocation in the project for land acquisition or compensation. He also dismissed allegations that BNP members are now forcing work to continue after the Awami League’s involvement.
Shantiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sukanta Saha said JICA must have assessed the feasibility of the project beforehand. However, he would inform higher authorities if anyone raised complaints. He also mentioned that he personally visited the site once to observe the road construction.
Bijon Sen Roy, General Secretary of the Haor Bachao Andolon (Save Haor Movement), stated that a similar road in Kishoreganj’s haor has faced nationwide criticism. He warned that such roads in Sunamganj’s haor would devastate biodiversity, agriculture, and farmers’ livelihoods. He urged environmental advisors and district administrators to intervene promptly.
Sunamganj District Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Ilias Mia said he has sought detailed information from the UNO. He added that no work should harm the haor’s nature, environment, or the farmers.
When contacted, former Planning Minister MA Mannan said he had arranged for farmers to be compensated for crop damage last year. He added, “I am not involved now. I do not know how things are proceeding. Nobody has informed me.”
