Cropland is decreasing in Gosairhat Upazila of Shariatpur as people have been digging holes in agricultural land for fish farming to earn more profit.
Local sources said an influential group has cut the soil of 100 farmers forcefully with an excavator for fish farming in Kuchaipatti Union of Gosairhat Upazila nearest to the Meghna River.
Meanwhile, the aggrieved farmers have demanded to close the illegal activities of the group due to fear of losing the cropland.
People in the area earn their livelihood by fishing in the river and growing crops on the land where the main crop is chilli. The area has a huge cropland of 100 acres where at least 100 farming families cultivate chillies and Aush paddy.
At least 10,000 maunds of chilli and 5, 00000 maunds of rice are produced in the land every year. Recently, local influential Azizul Dhali and his son Motaleb Dhali took the initiative to build a farm there.
They have already taken possession of 10 acres of cropland for fish farming and started cutting the soil at night. A huge embankment has been made in the middle of the land.
The influential circle is constantly threatening to beat up local farmers if they oppose the issue.
Local farmer Mejbah Uddin Bepari said, "Azizul Dhali and her sons have cut the soil forcefully.”
Mejbah Uddin said he is seeking help from the local administration so that he can earn his livelihood by cultivating the land.
A farmer named Malek Kazi said, "I cultivate chillies on my land so that I can run my family. Azizul Dhali has occupied 56 decimal of land and cutting the land. How do we live now? I don't allow fish farming on my land.”
A local farmer named Mosharraf Hossain said that they had occupied the land and started to cut the soil.
He said they occupied some lands of the local people which were in the middle of their farm. As a result of damming the soil, rainwater will accumulate in other lands.
Mosharraf added, “We cultivate crops by borrowing money in instalments but now these lands cannot be cultivated anymore. We want to get rid of this.”
When asked about the complaint, the accused Motaleb Dhali said, "Our land is low and because of waterlogging we cannot grow crops. So I have decided to cultivate fish in the land.”
Motaleb added, “Those whose land is in the middle of our farm, agreed for farming. But now they are disagreeing. So I have stopped cutting the soil.” Gosairhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Sabbir Sazzad said, "I have not received any complaint about digging land. If I receive any complaint, I will investigate the matter and take legal action."
