Human chain of traders protesting construction of new fish ghat in Hatiya
Hatiya (Noakhali) Correspondent
Tension has spread over the construction of a new fishing pier next to the 30-year-old fish pier in Hatiya's Suryumukhi Bazaar in Dwip Upazila of Noakhali.
Local fishermen and fish traders formed a human chain and protested on the north bank of Suryumukhi on Monday morning.
Around 500 fish traders, fishermen, retailers, workers and their families participated in the hour-long human chain organized at 11 am today. They demanded the closure of the new ghat, saying that if there are two markets at one ghat, conflict is inevitable.
Alauddin, President of the Suryajmukhi Fish Ghat Traders Association, said, "This ghat is associated with the lives of fishermen and traders. If a new ghat is built here, our existence will be threatened."
Businessman Md. Ibrahim complained, "After August 5, an extortion group identified themselves as a BNP affiliate and demanded extortion from us. If the extortion was not paid, they opened another ghat on the south side of the canal. They first tried to run the ghat in the name of former MP Engineer Fazlul Azim, but he objected."
Fish trader Md. Sharif Uddin said, "They demanded a ransom of 1 million taka from us. I myself paid 20 thousand taka. Even then the threats did not stop. Later, they inaugurated the new ghat on June 20 with outsiders.
Ignoring the rain, they took out a protest march after the human chain. The traders claimed that the new ghat was built without administrative approval. If it is not closed down soon, the livelihood of fishermen and traders will be threatened.
