Netrakona Correspondent

A local influential group is selling land used for canal excavation in various unions of Purbadhala Upazila of the district. It is grabbing crores of taka. The government is losing lakhs of taka in revenue. Even after knowing about the land cutting, the local administration is keeping silent for mysterious reasons. Locals say that there is a risk of flooding in the area during the rainy season. It seems that no one has seen it after August 5. Meanwhile, questions have been raised about this silent role of the local administration in the public mind. Angry farmers and locals are indicating that the administration has a deep connection with the sale of land after not taking action even after the complaint. It is learnt from the news that a group is taking land worth crores of taka with the help of the Purbadhala Upazila administration. The administration is not taking action despite complaints about this. As a result, the government is losing revenue worth crores of taka by selling the cut land worth crores of taka. The government is losing lakhs of taka in revenue. According to information received from locals, the government has taken the initiative to dig a canal to divert water from the Suair River, which flows past the Mahishabhar and Jalshuka and Shyamganj Bazars of Goalakanda Union in Purbadhala Upazila of Netrokona district, to the haor. After the canal was dug, numerous Hentle drivers including Pallab Mia, Motaleb Mia Sagar and their people, led by BNP leader Shahid Fakir, are using the influence of power to sell the soil on the river banks to various brick kilns. There is a fear of floods in the area when the season arrives. The local administration also sells a portion of the soil excavated from Hiranpur to Bairati along the Magra River Union Parishad at auction. Which is taken by the lessor within a week. But later, on the pretext of auction, a local business group is selling the soil excavated in various unions of the upazila without auction. It is also apparent to the locals that the local upazila administration is in a relationship with them. That is why the upazila administration has not taken any action regarding the sale of soil. It is learnt from the news that a gang of thieves has stolen several crores of taka by selling government land for canal excavations of various unions in the last 5 months. Sources of information obtained through the survey said that despite various complaints about the ongoing sale of soil from August 21, 2024 to December for about 5 months, the UNO has not paid any attention. Every day, eight vehicles are taking soil from the banks of various canals including the Suai River. Each vehicle is taking soil 15 to 20 times a day. Soil is being sold for 800 taka per vehicle. When asked how Md. Motaleb is taking soil for sale by renting a vehicle, he said that he takes it for 500 to 550 taka per vehicle. He was given a bribe to take the soil. He said that he took it from the ENO, he did not know anything about it. Meanwhile, there is no intelligence agency or local farmer left who has informed the upazila administration about such a matter. But former Purbadhala Executive Officer Md. Khabirul Ahsan remained silent for some unknown reason, ignoring the matter. Gopal Chandra Pal Sujan of the area said that Shaheed Fakir’s people are taking soil from the river bank in front of his house and the houses of hundreds of families in the area, including the soil accumulated on the river bank. When Shaheed Fakir was spoken to on the phone, he said that the boys of the area are doing all this. Purbadhala Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Rezwana Kabir said that he is sending people to the area to inquire about this. In this regard, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board Sarwar Jahan said that he is looking into the issue of selling soil for digging canals.