Influential grabbers are trying to filling of hundred years old pond at Saheberhat Bandar area under Barisal Sadar Upazila amid protest of the locals.
On other hand another group of grabbers filling Shib Bari pond and grabbing play ground adjacent Adarsha Govt. Primary School at Ward no-21 of Barisal City Corporation.
Md. Moazzem Hossain, secretary of Saheberhat Kobi Nazrul Samaj Kalyan Club and Library said Ajial Dighi was a wide pond situated on about 2 acres of land at Kundial Para Mouja of Saheberhut area under Sadar upazila of Barisal.
The land was owned by Jitendra Mohon Saha and used for bathing cattle since more than hundred years, he added.
But recently the grabbers using machine pumping out water of the pond and trying to filling it by sands.
However local people protested this because it was a traditional heritage of the area and they depended on this pond for irrigation, fishing and cattle bathing.
Khokon Mia, one of the local businessman, said the property turned to Khas land as Jitendra Mohon Saha died during British period and his family member went to India after partition of the subcontinent.
However now some influential people led by one Akkas Mia trying to grab the Ajial Dighi ignoring protest of the locals.
Akkas Mia, the accused businessman of the area, claimed he purchased the 6 acres of land including 1.52 acres of pond in 1990 from one Basrat Ullah Chowdhury and filling to develop that.
Confessing the pond used for bathing cattle of the locals he said, Saheberhat River flowing by side of the pond. So it was not necessary to use the pond for bathing cattle.
HM Rashed, assistant director of Department of Environment Barisal Divisional office, said we yet not received any allegation. If we receive the allegation, then we can serve notice against filling pond.
Saidur Rahman Rintu, Upazila Chairman, Barisal Sadar Upazila said, he heard about the grabbing of that pond.
Necessary action would be taken immediately after visiting the spot.
On other hand students and environment activists, formed human chain protesting filling Shib-Bari pond at Barisal city on Sunday.
The protest programme held on the bank of the pond was addressed among others by Prof. Md. Hanif, Mizan Khshru, Abdul Awal, local councilor Zakir Hossain, environment activist Wahiduzzaman.
Speakers demanding immediate stopping of filling a public pond as it was prohibited under environment act.
The pond situated on ward no 21 about 50 decimal of ‘debottor property’. But some land grabbers trying to fill the pond creating false documents and decrees, speakers said.
Abdul Awal, vice president of the adjacent Adarsha Govt. primary school managing committee, said this land was part of ‘debottor property’ and there was a Shib Mandir (temple) served by one Sebait (priest) .
After liberation the Sebait went to India and since then primary school authority using this pond.
Mizan Khashru, one of senior citizen of the area, said, this land was owned by one Upendra Kishor and he donated the land including pond as ‘debottor’ for running the temple.
However recently Nurul Islam, BCC councilor of ward no 21 and his associates demanding ownership of the land trying to fill the pond with sands since Thursday night, he added.
A H M Rashed, assistant director, Environment Directorate Barisal divisional office, said they did not give any permission for filling the pond.
Acknowledging about not taking any permission from environment directorate Nurul Islam claimed that he had proper documents about ownership of the pond and filling of private pond did not require any permission.
