Barisal Correspondent :
Participants at a human chain and rally on Wednesday organised in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall of the city demanded immediate cancellation of lease of entrance point of Jail Khal at Amanatganj point and execution of the recent directive given by High Court.
The programme was organised by the Hatkhola, Fariapatty, Bazaar Road Businessmen Welfare Association and participated by different sections of people including environment, civic right group and stake holders.
It was addressed among others by Ebaidul Huq Chan, president, Humayun Haoladar, secretary of the association, Hafizur Rahman Tipu, BCC Councilor of Ward-6, Jahangir Hossain Manik, Vice-president, Mrinal Kanti Saha,Anisuzzaman Khan Kamal, members of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
The speakers and participants alleged that Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authourity on March 2014 re-excavated the entrance point of the canal at Amanatganj area expending Tk 60 lakhs for creating navigability to easy anchorage and plying the goods laden water transport.
However, within a short time BIWTA leased that entrance-point of the canal affecting the interest of the businessmen, citizens and environment activists, the speakers told.
Barisal town once called as ‘Venice of Bengal’ had nearly 600 pond and water bodies, more than 22 canals in pre-liberation period and 17 canals in post-liberation period in and around the city and Kirtankhola River was more than four kilometres wide in 50 years back, they told.
But rampant filling, encroachments and grabbing of the water bodies caused decreasing the existences to only parts of four canals including Jail Khal, Sagordi Khal, Rayer Khal, Vatar Khal, 40 ponds in around of 45 square kilometers areas of Barisal city and width of Kirtankhola River have been limited to less than one kilometer making those water bodies rapidly dying, the speakers added.
Md. Shahudullah, deputy director BIWTA and Barisal port officer, claimed, the lease was given by the pressure of the ruling party lawmaker and upazila chairman. It would be cancelled any time if there would not be any political intervention.
Mentionable division bench of High Court on October 20 ordered to take step for preserving Jail Khal (Jail Canal) of Barisal and stopping filling for encroachment and dumping wastage on that canal within next two-weeks.
The division bench consisted with Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md. Ashraful Kamal passed this order in response of the writ petition filed on public interest by Advocate Asaduzzaman Siddique and moved by Advocate Manjil Morshed.
Participants at a human chain and rally on Wednesday organised in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall of the city demanded immediate cancellation of lease of entrance point of Jail Khal at Amanatganj point and execution of the recent directive given by High Court.
The programme was organised by the Hatkhola, Fariapatty, Bazaar Road Businessmen Welfare Association and participated by different sections of people including environment, civic right group and stake holders.
It was addressed among others by Ebaidul Huq Chan, president, Humayun Haoladar, secretary of the association, Hafizur Rahman Tipu, BCC Councilor of Ward-6, Jahangir Hossain Manik, Vice-president, Mrinal Kanti Saha,Anisuzzaman Khan Kamal, members of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
The speakers and participants alleged that Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authourity on March 2014 re-excavated the entrance point of the canal at Amanatganj area expending Tk 60 lakhs for creating navigability to easy anchorage and plying the goods laden water transport.
However, within a short time BIWTA leased that entrance-point of the canal affecting the interest of the businessmen, citizens and environment activists, the speakers told.
Barisal town once called as ‘Venice of Bengal’ had nearly 600 pond and water bodies, more than 22 canals in pre-liberation period and 17 canals in post-liberation period in and around the city and Kirtankhola River was more than four kilometres wide in 50 years back, they told.
But rampant filling, encroachments and grabbing of the water bodies caused decreasing the existences to only parts of four canals including Jail Khal, Sagordi Khal, Rayer Khal, Vatar Khal, 40 ponds in around of 45 square kilometers areas of Barisal city and width of Kirtankhola River have been limited to less than one kilometer making those water bodies rapidly dying, the speakers added.
Md. Shahudullah, deputy director BIWTA and Barisal port officer, claimed, the lease was given by the pressure of the ruling party lawmaker and upazila chairman. It would be cancelled any time if there would not be any political intervention.
Mentionable division bench of High Court on October 20 ordered to take step for preserving Jail Khal (Jail Canal) of Barisal and stopping filling for encroachment and dumping wastage on that canal within next two-weeks.
The division bench consisted with Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md. Ashraful Kamal passed this order in response of the writ petition filed on public interest by Advocate Asaduzzaman Siddique and moved by Advocate Manjil Morshed.
