A.F.M. Asad Ullah: In the name of development, shops, markets and permanent embankments are being built on the riverbank. On the one hand, the encroachment of influential people, and on the other hand, the irresponsibility of the administration – under the pressure of both, the haor river is losing its natural flow, creating waterlogging, diseases and climate risks.
The encroachment of the Pathlai River in Sreepur Bazar of Uttarsreepur Union of Tahirpur Upazila of Sunamganj has now become a cause of constant suffering for the locals. A market has been built by damming it at the source of the river. And there are fifty shops in that market.
With the help of local influential people, a road has been built by damming the river, and later a bustling market has been built. These encroachments, including teachers and politicians, have filled the river space and built about fifty shops. I was talking about the Pathlai River in Tahirpur Upazila. Where a market was built by damming it at the mouth of the living river during the previous Awami League government.
In 2006, the Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS), a non-governmental development organization, built a temporary dam at the source of the Kalagang River, a branch of the Pathlai River in Tahirpur, to protect the crops of the Matian Haor. These dams were supposed to be built in such a way that boats could navigate the river when the dam broke during the monsoon. However, since this dam was in the Sreepur market, the squatters later raised the market again with soil and built shops. Now, about fifty semi-pacca shops have been built in the place of the river. Local school teachers and influential people are among the squatters.
The squatters said that although it is on the river, the category of the land was later changed based on their application. As a result, they took a one-year settlement. However, they built shops before taking the settlement.
Among the squatters, there are 6 houses belonging to Janata High School teacher Habibur Rahman, a large rice mill belonging to Rafiqul Islam, a teacher at the same school, two houses belonging to Ward Awami League President Shamnur Akhanji, a house belonging to Jubo League leader Chirpiyar Mia, two houses belonging to Union Jubo Dal President Ziaur Rahman Akhanji, and 3 houses belonging to his uncle, BGB member Ali Azgar, along with local influential squatters.
Abul Leis, a resident of Shikgrampur, said that influential people have filled the river’s source and built shops. As a result, it has now become a dead river. Bathing in the stagnant water of the river during the dry season causes itching on the body.
Md. Moyna Mia, a resident of Kadamtali village, said that since childhood, I have seen that there was a river here. At one time, a dam was built on the river for people to move across the river. This used to cause waterlogging in some haors during the dry season. Now, the dam has to be cut and water has to be drained in other areas of the haor. In addition, shops have been built by encroaching on the market’s boat dock.
Janata High School teacher Habibur Rahman confirmed the encroachment and said, “A few years ago, I applied to the District Commissioner and changed the land category and took a one-year settlement. I pay rent every year.”
Rafiqul Islam, a teacher at the same school, said, “Many people have built pucca houses before taking the settlement. That is why I also built pucca houses. The houses were built with permission from the administration.”
Uttarsripur Union Jubo Dal President Ziaur Rahman Akhanji said, “The villagers have built houses by filling the mouth of the river together. Later, a settlement was also taken from the administration.”
He also said that he has rented out one of his two shops for personal office and the other for rent. In addition, his uncle, BGB member Ali Azgar, has 2 houses.
Ward Awami League President Shamnur Akhanji said, “A dam was built at the source of the river through a non-governmental development organization. Later, we built shops by pouring soil on both sides of the dam.” I have 2 houses here.
Yahia Sajjad, Upazila Project Officer of the then crop protection dam of the government development organization Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS), said, in 2006, a temporary dam was built at that place of the river to protect the crops of Matian Haor. After that, the dam broke twice. Later, the locals built a permanent dam with government allocation at different times. They also filled it up and built shops.
Janata High School principal and Sunamganj River Travelers’ Party president Md. Modaschir Alam said, the dam in Sreepur Bazar in Kalagang was needed to protect the crops at that time. In such a situation, a dam was built to protect the crops of Matian-Pile Haor with the help of the development organization CNRS. Currently, the permanent dam in the market is no longer needed as the Water Development Board has built multiple dams in this area through PIC. Due to this dam, about 50 acres of land in Poliyar Beel, Kadamtolir Beel and Betagara Beel are waterlogged. As a result, the land cannot be cultivated. Besides, from Paush to Baishakh, people of Matian, Kadamtali, Mantala, Shibrampur, Betagara, Ujjwalpur, Kalashripur and Tarang villages cannot bathe in the river. The water of the river has become polluted and the incidence of various diseases has increased. Due to the closure of the mouth of the river, paddy of Matian and Palai Haor and cattle straw cannot be transported by river.
Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Abul Hashem said, Sreepur market is a very important market. It is located on the banks of the Pathlai river and next to the road. If anyone has illegally occupied any part of the river, we will investigate and take legal action to evict them if we find out the truth.
