Kanchkhali Canal excavation work halted by extortionists in Raozan
Shahadat Hossain Sajjad, Raozan (Chittagong)
In Raozan, Chittagong, canal excavation work was halted after contractors faced extortion demands, leading them to flee with their excavation equipment.
The incident occurred in the Kul Sharif Para area of Kanchkhali. It is known that the Kanchkhali canal, renowned for vegetable cultivation along its banks, supports early farming of various crops. To facilitate irrigation for farmers, the Upazila Agriculture Department proposed excavation to the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). To sustain farming throughout the year, BADC called for a tender to excavate a 4-kilometer stretch of the Kanchkhali canal. The contracting firm, Sohel MD Sohel Enterprise, began the excavation work in early April this year, with a budget of 10 lakh taka per kilometer, totaling 40 lakh taka for the 4 kilometers.
Abdus Shukkur, president of the Kanchkhali Farmers’ Association, stated that farmers cultivate various vegetables year-round on over 50 acres of land along both banks of the canal. However, during the dry season, reduced water flow causes irrigation shortages. To address this, BADC initiated the canal excavation starting from Jarultala, but the work stopped after one kilometer in Kul Sharif Para. Shukkur noted uncertainty about whether someone demanded extortion, but the contractors halted work and fled with their excavator at night. The area where the work stopped is agricultural land, and without completing the excavation, crops could be submerged by flash floods during the monsoon. He demanded the resumption of the remaining canal excavation.
When asked, Sanjay Kumar Chand, the Upazila Assistant Agriculture Officer in charge of Kanchkhali, said that some armed terrorists demanded extortion from the contractor at night, causing the team to halt work and flee. Multiple attempts to contact contractor Syed Sohel via phone and text messages received no response. Saiful Islam, Assistant Engineer at BADC, stated that about three kilometers of the Kanchkhali canal excavation had been completed.
Abdus Shukkur, president of the Kanchkhali Farmers’ Association, stated that farmers cultivate various vegetables year-round on over 50 acres of land along both banks of the canal. However, during the dry season, reduced water flow causes irrigation shortages. To address this, BADC initiated the canal excavation starting from Jarultala, but the work stopped after one kilometer in Kul Sharif Para. Shukkur noted uncertainty about whether someone demanded extortion, but the contractors halted work and fled with their excavator at night. The area where the work stopped is agricultural land, and without completing the excavation, crops could be submerged by flash floods during the monsoon. He demanded the resumption of the remaining canal excavation.
When asked, Sanjay Kumar Chand, the Upazila Assistant Agriculture Officer in charge of Kanchkhali, said that some armed terrorists demanded extortion from the contractor at night, causing the team to halt work and flee. Multiple attempts to contact contractor Syed Sohel via phone and text messages received no response. Saiful Islam, Assistant Engineer at BADC, stated that about three kilometers of the Kanchkhali canal excavation had been completed.
However, in the final phase, 3-4 helmeted terrorists assaulted the contractor’s workers, held guns to their faces, and demanded 2 lakh taka in extortion. Fearing for their safety, the contractor’s team stopped work and fled with the excavator and other equipment. As a result, the excavation work is currently suspended. If necessary, another contractor will be appointed to complete the remaining one kilometer before the monsoon season
