Mamun Hossain, Pabna

Despite the law that the nature of the land cannot be changed, pond digging is going on day and night in Handial Kharpukur village of Pabna's Chatmohar upazila.

The agricultural land of Chalanbil is decreasing at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, questions have been raised about the silent role of the administration in preventing pond digging.

It is learnt that in Handial, Chatmohar upazila of Pabna, known as the granary of North Bengal, fish farming is more profitable, so there is a rush to dig ponds in high fertile three-crop land. As a result, there is an adverse impact on crop production in the land.

Of the 9 upazilas of this district, the most paddy and mustard are cultivated in Handial. In this upazila, the amount of cultivable land is decreasing every year due to digging ponds by cutting three-crop fertile land with excavators (Veku machines). Locals said that the amount of cropland is decreasing drastically by the end of the year.

On the spot, it was seen that ponds are being dug in the cropland in front of the open Handial police outpost with excavator machines not only at night but also during the day. The excavated soil from that land is being taken to various uses including brick kilns with tractors and drum trucks. This is damaging the surrounding cropland and houses. Rural roads are being destroyed. Locals do not have the courage to complain because they are influential leaders.

Locals who do not want to be named said that a person named Sattar Mandal of Hansupur village is digging ponds in cropland in Kharpukur village in defiance of government ban. They alleged that the accused Sattar Mandal is wreaking havoc on agricultural land day and night because he is an influential leader of Handial BNP.

They said that he is forcibly digging ponds on the land by exploiting the party's influence. If anyone protests, he is being threatened with various threats. The locals said that no one dares to speak out due to fear. Therefore, they are seeking the immediate intervention of the concerned authorities to stop the illegal digging of ponds on cropland.

When the accused Sattar Mandal was called to inquire about this, he did not answer the phone.

When asked about this, Chatmohar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Mehedi Hasan Shakil said that there is no scope to dig ponds on cropland. He said that he will take necessary measures after investigating the matter.