Mongla, Sept 25 (V7N) – Several shrimp farms in Joymoni and Katakhali areas of Mongla have been allegedly filled with dredged sand during the night by a private company, causing damage worth several lakh taka. Affected farmers filed written complaints on Thursday afternoon with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and also lodged a complaint at Mongla Police Station, seeking immediate intervention.

According to the complaint, shrimp cultivators Shyamal Adhikari, Bipul Mondal, Bidhan Mondal, Abdul Jabbar Bepari, Abul Kalam Hawlader, Abul Talukder, Lalmon Bibi, and Abdul Mannan Talukder stated that A.Z. Dredging Company dumped sand from the river into their farms under different land plots recorded in BS Khatian 30, 35, 41, 110, 116, 148, 162, 201, 321, 308, 357, 402, 424, 425, 456, 517, and 519. The sudden sand filling not only destroyed their shrimp stock but also rendered the lands unusable for aquaculture. Farmers alleged that when they tried to stop the activity, company workers ignored their objections.

Local representative of A.Z. Dredging Company, Afsar Uddin, when contacted, said, “For details, please communicate with our office.”

Victim farmer Bidhan Mondal said, “Without any notice, the company dumped sand into my shrimp enclosure at night. Fish worth about three lakh taka died instantly. I had taken a loan from an NGO to run this farm. Now I have lost everything.”

Another farmer, Abul Kalam Hawlader, added, “They filled my land with sand in the dark of night. When we resisted, they refused to listen. On what authority does this company destroy our land and livelihood?”

Abul Hossain Hawlader, another affected cultivator, said, “This was my ancestral property where I had been farming shrimp for years. The company has ruined it overnight. We want compensation and legal action against them.”

A field visit on Thursday afternoon confirmed that several shrimp farms had been cut open and filled with dredged sand. The force of the sand also spread into nearby agricultural land, covering fertile soil.

Local residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the land-filling was being carried out for commercial resale purposes. They warned that if such indiscriminate dumping continues across the upazila, agricultural production will become impossible.

Repeated attempts to reach Mongla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi over the phone went unanswered.

Mongla Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Anisur Rahman said, “Legal steps will be taken. Police are monitoring the situation to prevent any deterioration of law and order.”

END/AHS/SMA/