Kotalipara Upazila Administration in Gopalganj has removed an illegal dam built under a bridge. The removal of the dam brought relief to more than fifty families who had long been suffering from waterlogging.
On Sunday, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Masum Billah conducted an operation in Lebubari village under Kandi Union and removed the illegal structure beneath the bridge.
During the operation, Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer S.M. Shahjahan Siraj, Upazila Engineer Shafiul Azam, Kotalipara Police, and representatives from various departments of the administration were present.
For a long time, a concrete wall built illegally under the bridge had trapped water, causing severe suffering for over fifty families living in the area.
Several affected residents, who requested anonymity, said, “We have been held hostage for a long time by influential fish farm owners. We were too afraid to speak out. Finally, we submitted a written complaint to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer seeking removal of the dam.”
Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer S.M. Shahjahan Siraj said, “A group of influential locals had been blocking the natural water flow by building a concrete wall under the bridge to create fish enclosures during the monsoon season. As a result, around fifty families living within the wetland area became waterlogged. Due to the fish enclosure, the homestead banks were gradually collapsing. Even after the monsoon ended, the trapped water could not recede because of the dam, causing continuous suffering for the affected families.”
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Masum Billah, who led the drive, said, “Based on the complaints of the affected residents and under the direction of UNO Sagufata Haque, we inspected the site and found the allegations to be true. The illegal concrete wall built to block the water under the bridge was subsequently demolished.
