Staff Reporter

The newly established BSCIC Industrial Park has now caused of woe to over 350 families of Belutia village in Sirajganj Sadar upazila due to closure of their sole path (way) for in and out.

About 2000 residents of the village are now facing immense sufferings while they need to go out or enter into the village.

Of them, school going students, elderly men and women, and critical patients are also worst sufferers.

But, there is no one to pay heed in this regard even after several verbal appeals of the villagers, they claimed.

Though, the then local Kalia Haripur Union Parishad Chairman Md. Sabur Ali Sheikh assured the villagers to set up a path (road) for the movement of the villagers, the assurance went in vain as the chairman went into hiding centering the political transformation after July-August uprising.

Locals complained that, the problem has created due to faulty plan of the BSCIC authorities as they did not keep any space for the movement of villagers while making design for the Industrial Park. In contrary, the BSCIC authorities have shut down their only means of movement by establishing a boundary wall.

It is learnt that, BSCIC under supervision of Industry Ministry has established BSCIC Industrial Park on about 400 acres of lands on the western side of Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge covering several parts of Chhatiyantoli, West Mohonpur, Bonbaria, Beltiya and Morgram Mouza (unit) in Sirajganj Sadar upazila involving at about Tk 719.21 crore.

As the park area is considered as a restricted area for unauthorized people, the BSCIC authorities as per its plan constructed a high raised boundary wall surrounding the park closing the solo Pacca road for the movements of around 2000 people in the Belutia village.

Bilotia village is located at about half kilometers away of eastern side from the BSCIC Industrial Park established along the western bank of the Jamuna river.

As the village is surrounded by the mighty river Jamuna, there is no means of out and enter into the village without the solo road, which has now remained closed due to establishment of BSCIC Industrial Park and its high raised boundary wall.

In rainy season, villagers are able to use boats as their main means for movement. But, in dry season like this time, they have no way to go outside or enter into the village except the solo road.

In this situation, villagers are being forced to cross the area after climbing over the boundary wall. It is posing risk for women, elderly men and children. They also suffer to carry heavy goods.

They can’t carry their agricultural goods including fertilizers and vegetables easily to elsewhere. Similarly, they are facing problem, while they want to bring some goods from outside especially from hats and baza’ar.

Sanowar Hossain, a farmer of the Belutia village said, “Most residents of the Belutia village are farmers, who lead livelihoods by farming on Char lands. They almost face various natural disasters like river erosion and floods. Now the closure of sole road has added another agony. In this situation, villagers have become disheartened tremendously.”

Nur Mohammad, another farmer of the village said, “We can’t transport our goods to town or other places due to closure of the road’s entrance point. We however, are carrying goods climbing the boundary wall set up by BSCIC. But, no vehicle can enter or go out climbing the wall. This is why, we are in misery.”

He further said, earlier local Union Parishad Chairman Md. Sabur Ali Sheikh assured us to manage a road beside the wall. But, he has now gone absconding due to fall of Awami League government. On the other hand, the Project Director Jafar Bayazid, who earlier assured to assist in establishing a way beside the boundary wall, has gone to elsewhere after getting promotion. Now, he is out of reach to us. Consequently, none is here to see our miseries.”

During a spot visit, this correspondent found that, locals were climbing the boundary wall to cross the area. After getting up on the boundary wall, they are able to carry their goods like fertilizers, seeds, paddy and rice.

Due to ongoing dry season, people can’t transport their goods through boats, villagers added.

Before filing this report, this correspondent attempted to take a comment in this regard, but Jafar Bayazid, PD of the BSCIC Industrial Park and Regional Director of Regional Office in Rajshahi, did not respond. Even, he did not reply to the SMS sent over his whatsapp and cell phone.

Seeking anonymity, some villagers said, they will go for tougher agitation with the help of local students and public, if necessary steps are not taken immediately.

They also urged the interference of newly posted Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Nazrul Islam in this context to alleviate their sufferings.