In Kaliakair, Banshi river is almost dead today

Kaliakair Correspondent: Various business establishments including semi-finished houses and brick kilns are being built illegally by occupying the river Banshi in Kaliakair of Gazipur. Due to occupation, the traditional river Banshi is losing its existence today. The investigation shows that 15 km of Kaliakair part of the Banshi river. Mr. About 10 km of the route has lost its navigability and has become agricultural food.

Even two decades ago, there were hundreds of irrigation projects on both sides of the river from Kaliakair to Dhamrai Trimohna. Due to the cessation of water flow in the river, irrigation facilities have been cut off in about 50,000 bighas of land in more than 60 of those projects. About 50 percent of the land along the 15-kilometer stretch of the Banshi River has now been evicted.

In most places, village or residential land has been created by erecting half-finished houses. Some even occupy the river and set up brickfields, while others are fishing in the river with dams. Although not officially leased to anyone, local influential people are cultivating thousands of bighas of land along the Banshi River. The locals have demanded to dig the river by occupying the forcibly occupied land by placing pillars by measuring the char areas and banks of the Banshi river. If the river is dug, it will be easier to send and bring goods to other parts of the country including the capital in a short time.

Besides, more than 100 irrigated lands will be able to come under re-cultivation and will be able to play a helpful role in increasing crop and fish production, said Haji Mohammad, chairman of Sutrapur Union Parishad. Bazlur Rahman informed. Dhalajora Union Parishad Chairman. Akhtaruzzaman said that due to the forcible occupation, the traditional Banshi river is in crisis today. He demanded the eviction of all illegal structures from the land of the Banshi river and re-excavation of the river.

In this regard, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner SM Tariqul Islam said that an initiative will be taken to evict the illegal occupants from the Banshi river and re-excavate the Banshi river after conducting an on-the-spot investigation.