A Z Al Muzahid, Kishoreganj

A family planning inspector of Kargaon Union in Katiadi Upazila of Kishoreganj has allegedly violated the environmental law and using his power to fill up the centennial canal in broad daylight.

Locals have alleged that hundreds of acres of agricultural land will be damaged or uncultivated due to the filling up of the centennial canal. In addition, about thirty thousand people in three villages including Dangger Gao in Kargaon Union will be without water due to heavy rains. This is the only canal for draining rain water in several other villages including Kargaon Union Sadar.

Protesting the filling of the canal, people formed a human chain on the canal filled with soil in Danger Gao at 11 am on Tuesday (March 4) after making written and verbal complaints a month ago and not getting any redress. The villagers formed this human chain to protest the filling of the canal after complaining to the local administration and the UP chairman but not getting any redress. Among them, Rabiullah (68), Mohar Uddin (75), Suruj Ali (83), Nur Hossain (75), Zahar Ali (62), Asir Uddin (60), Jalal Mia (59), Gias Uddin (56), Shahjahan (56), Rachel (55), Kajal Mia (52), Al Islam (27), Kausar Mia (26) and others spoke.

On behalf of the villagers, a certain Suruj Ali filed a written complaint with the Department of Environment Kishoreganj complaining about the filling of the canal and seeking legal redress.

According to local sources and written complaints, the filling of this century-old canal is being carried out in violation of the environment law on the direct initiative of Family Planning Inspector Afroza Akhter. Afroza Akhter, Family Planning Inspector of Kargaon Union in Katiadi Upazila, is completely violating the environment law by purchasing a pond and canal, overcoming the influence of her father and brother, and is filling the canal in violation of the environment law. According to the investigation and local residents, Kargaon is managing the local union land in exchange for money, so he is pretending not to know everything and is giving the opportunity to fill the soil.

In the Supreme Court case to protect the land environment law and rules, there is a ban on filling government canals, rivers and canals adjacent to roads, roads, and leasing commercial spaces.

In this regard, the accused family planning inspector Afroza Akhter said, I am filling the canal with soil in my documented canal. What is the law here? Tell me what happened to the journalists. Then he hung up the phone!

Regarding the matter, Khandaker Nazmul Alam (Afroza's brother) said, the UNO sub has given verbal approval for filling. However, he could not show any paper in favor of the filling. Then he said, besides, the army major and brigadier are relatives of us, they also know about the matter.

In this regard, Kargaon Union Parishad Chairman Lion Nadim Molla said on his mobile phone, we have approached whom for the canal site. We have not given any permission for filling. Moreover, I do not have the power to give permission for filling. However, he said, everyone will suffer from waterlogging due to filling the canal. I also want proper legal remedy for this.

In this regard, Katiadi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Maidul Islam said, I have not received any written application for filling the canal so far. So there is no question of giving any verbal approval. We will look into the matter seriously.

In this regard, Assistant Director (CC) of Kishoreganj District Family Planning Office Dr. Halima Akhtar said, I have been informed about the matter through you (journalists). We will look into the violation of the environmental law. Along with this, she also requested not to publish any news on the matter.

Assistant Director (Family Planning) of Kishoreganj District Family Planning Office Muhammad Nazmul Anwar Apu said, since the matter has been complained to the Department of Environment, the complaint should be proven first, and then administrative action will be taken.

It is worth noting that in 2000, an order issued by the then Prime Minister's Office stated that in order to combat natural disasters, protect people's shelters and help in firefighting, natural water bodies including canals, beels, ponds and drains cannot be filled under any circumstances and their course cannot be changed. According to the Water Conservation Act-2000, it is illegal to fill any ponds, water bodies, rivers and canals.

According to the Environmental Protection Act (amended in 2010), filling of any type of reservoir or pond is completely prohibited and Section 7 of the Act provides for strict action against those who fill it, causing environmental damage and threatening the environment by destroying natural features and biodiversity.