Locals have lodged a written complaint with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer demanding to stop the sale of soil at the brick kiln in the name of digging a pond at Gabtali in Bogra. The villagers of Naskaripara of Sonarai Union of the upazila have raised their voices against such illegal activities.

The complaint was lodged in writing signed by more than a hundred people of the village. Copies have been given to Bogra Deputy Commissioner, Director Bogra Environment Department, Gabtali Upazila Chairman, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land), Gabtali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) and journalists. According to the written complaint filed, there is a bill of government khas land on the east side of Naskaripara village and behind Gazaria village (in Gazaria mouza).

After the War of Independence, the government granted some lands on the west side of the bill and on the east side of the bill. A few days ago, Abu Tayyab and Metaul Islam, sons of the late Rafiul Alam, had to cultivate about 12/13 bighas (4.25 acres) of government-established land in their own village of Balail in Sariakandi upazila of the district. He is planning and trying to sell the 12/13 bigha land in a brick kiln in the name of digging a pond. There are about 250 bighas of cultivable land to the west of the pond. Excavation of ponds will create waterlogging for the banks of the ponds and will cause drainage problems and the above lands will be unsuitable for cultivation. As a result, the farmers of the area will face huge losses, the villagers have mentioned in the written complaint filed.

Talking to local UP member Abdul Mannan about this, he said, “I have the signature of the villagers as well as the written complaint.” Talking to Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Mosha Raunak Jahan, he admitted that he had received a written complaint in this regard. He added that strict action would be taken against them if they continued their illegal activities. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Salma Akhter said it was a legal crime to sell land in a brick kiln in this way. Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Nuruzzaman Raju told this correspondent that after I came to know about the matter, the soil was removed and the sale at the brick kiln was stopped.

Speaking to Motaul Islam PK, one of the accused, he said, “We are working legally.” Because he threw the question of what will be done with the soil after the edge of the pond is blocked. “We don’t live in any brotherly area, the people in our land area benefit from farming,” he added. If the pond is done in this way, the locals will get more benefits. He (PK) also questioned the people who signed the complaint and said that many people did not sign the complaint.