Farmers being deprived of irrigation facilities

Aminul Islam Hero & Abdul Latif from Raiganj

Allegation has been intensified that a deep tube-well installed at Bramhagachha Hatem Hashil Bhatharia village in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj district in 1983 by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has been occupied by an influential Awami League leader and also former Union Parishad Chairman that creates agitation among the local farmers.

Due to illegal occupation by the AL leader and former Chairman of Bramhagachha Union Parishad Nasir Uddin Mahmud Nazir, farmers of the area are being deprived of irrigation facilities. They are apprehending to face hardship during the upcoming cultivation season.

Centering the issue, over 100 agitating farmers in the area including Abdur Rashid, Samidul Islam, Hafizur Rahman and Idris Ali have submitted written complaints to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Assistant Engineer of BADC’s Raiganj upazila Zone and other concerned officers seeking remedy in this regard.

According to the written complaints, after installing the deep tube-well, an 11-member committee presided by Dr. Abdur Rashid carried out the irrigation activities in the area on a cooperative basis. But, on the end of around three years, the influential AL leader Nazir took the deep tube-well under his occupation and started operating it according to his own will. As a result, farmers in the area have been deprived of irrigation facility for over last three decades.

Locals complained that, the chairman Nazir have been realizing excessive money (fare) from the farmers for supplying water to their lands claiming the deep tube-well his own property. If someone protests, he or she faces hardship, they claimed.

Samidul Islam, a farmer of the Bhatharia village said, “If we protest against Nazir’s misdeeds, he and his men threaten us to face dire consequences. This is why; none of the area opens mouth against him now.”

Hafizur Rahman, another farmer of the village said, “I have three bighas of land under the deep tube-well. As per the BADC provision, I have to pay highest Tk 35 to Tk 40 against per decimal of land. But, Nazir realizes Tk 100 against per decimal of land from farmers. Consequently, farmers of the area have been facing crisis of water due to lack of irrigation pump that hampers farming activities.”

Local farmers urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to resolve the problems as early as possible.

Ananda Barman, Assistant Engineer of BADC in Raiganj said, “Action would be taken, if someone violates the rules of BADC. We will take necessary steps after investigating into the allegation.”

Admitting about the written complaint, Nahid Hasan Khan, UNO of Raiganj Upazila said, “Necessary action would be taken in this regard on the basis of investigation. We are committed to provide all kinds of supports to the farmers in which they can carry farming safely. So, no influential will be spared.”

When The Daily Sky contacted with the AL leader and former Chairman Nasir Uddin Mahmud Nazir over cell phone, he declined to make any comment in this regard on the excuse of keeping busy.