Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Agricultural land cutting festival across Nangalkot In 1 municipality and 16 unions of Cumillas Nangalkot upazila, agricultural land and government canal soil is being cut indiscriminately and sold to brick kilns, various structures and new house builders.

As a result, people of different ages, including children, are falling ill due to the destruction of agricultural land, damaged roads and dust. Due to the reckless speed of illegal tractors, almost all the roads of the upazila are dark during the day and night. Even though the administration has raided some places, nothing is being done. As a result, three crop lands are also being made into ponds by soil terrorists.

According to the investigation, Kadba, Sonaberi, Kerr Bhomra of Bangadda Winion of the upazila, Chhota Svangeeshwar, Asharkota of Peria Union, North Shaktali, Sriflia, Kazi Jhorpukuria, Chehria, Shivpur, Tulagaon of Makrabpur Union, Batra, Chupua of Raikot North Union, Raikot, Alipur, Raykot South Shyamirkhil of Union, Jhatiapara, Tetaiya of Maukra Union, Keshtala, Chandaish, Karakot, Tharhir, Kashipur of Battali Union, Ullakhali, Badarpur of Dhalua Union, Bayera, Magua, Mannara, Shubopur of Buxganj Union, Kadmatli, Barakali, Kokali, a municipality of Ashwadia in the municipality.

And soil is being cut in at least 100 places of 16 unions. As a result, most of the roads in the upazila have been occupied by tractors.Due to the dust of the tractors, the people traveling on the road have to face extreme confusion. Many people have to leave their homes due to the dust entering the house next to the road.

On Tuesday morning, going to North Shaktali village, it was seen that the soil has been cut and the agricultural land has been made into a pond. The soil is cut by vacuum machines and taken by tractors to brick kilns and to fill new houses. When asked about who is cutting the soil, the locals said that the vacuums and tractors belong to Mohammad Liton of Bangadda village in the upazila. As Liton is influential, the aggrieved locals do not dare to say anything to him.

Local Asharkota village farmers Hamidullah and Kabir said that all the soil on the surface of the land is being cut. Again, the soil is being cut to a depth of 10 to 15 feet from many lands. Apart from this, trees have been cut on the roads and roadsides at different places of the roads and the houses around the roads have become uninhabitable due to the dust in the houses.

Talking to Mobarak Hossain, the tractor and vacuum owner of Bangadda village in this regard, he said, we have taken Malti card from Khorsed Alam of Kodalia village, the younger brother of Nangalkot municipality mayor, for managing the administration for each vacuum and 2000 taka for each tractor to move on the road. Now no one can tell us anything about cutting or carrying soil. If so, Khorsed Bhai will look into the matter.

Accused Khorshed Alam said, "All the journalists met me, you also meet me." When asked why we should meet, he said, you will understand when you meet.

Nangalkot Police Station Officer-in-Charge Debashish Chowdhury said, I have come to know from you about the Malti card, but I do not know anything about it.