Rajshahi, Mar 1, (V7N) – Residents of the Hojgram New Para densely populated area in Rajshahi staged a human chain on Saturday, March 1, at around 11:30 AM, to protest the illegal installation of a mill in their area.

The villagers have raised concerns regarding the installation of a rice and flour mill by a local resident, Zhatu Sheikh, and his son-in-law, Kurban Ali. The residents claim that despite repeated attempts to convince them that the mill should not be set up in this heavily populated area, the installation process is ongoing. The proposed location for the mill is in close proximity to several residential homes. The villagers argue that the noise from the mill machines, especially during the rice processing, will cause significant disturbance to children’s education, disrupt sleep during the night, and also create health hazards due to dust pollution. Furthermore, they fear that the dust and dirt from the mill will seep into homes, causing damage to personal belongings.

The residents added that despite their attempts to discourage the installation, Zhatu Sheikh and his family have resorted to rude behavior and abusive language when approached.

Mustak Ahmed, a local resident and former General Secretary of the Rajshahi City Newspaper Workers’ Union, stated that they had raised the issue with the Environmental Department, City Corporation, Rajpara Police Station, and the Electricity Department, but no action has been taken as of yet.

Another resident, Rintu, voiced concern over the long-term environmental impact of the mill. He emphasized the continuous noise pollution and dust accumulation, and mentioned that despite repeated requests to the mill owners to relocate, they have ignored the requests.

In response to the written complaint, Nil Ratan Sarkar, an inspector at the Rajshahi District Environmental Department, stated that after receiving the complaint, he had contacted the mill owner and instructed them to halt all activities. He further mentioned that since the issue had not been addressed by the owners, the matter would be reviewed again.

Kabir Hossain, Assistant Director of the Rajshahi Environmental Department, also acknowledged the issue and assured that measures would be taken. He clarified that there is no possibility of installing a new mill in densely populated areas, but the complaint would be thoroughly investigated.

This ongoing issue has raised serious concerns among the residents about their quality of life, and they are hoping for swift action from the authorities to ensure their environment and health are protected.

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