Teknaf (Barta24.com): Water Development Board (WDB) of Cox’s Bazar has taken initiatives to repair the river protection embankments or construction of border security road. For this purpose decision has been taken to evict more than two hundred fishermen families in the island of Shahpori.
On last Tuesday the WDB has served a notice of seven days to leave the island. This has created serious concerns among the fishermen who have been residing here for decades. However the fishermen have sought time of staying here in the rainy season.
According to local sources, on Tuesday a notice to remove the belongings and all establishments was served to the fishermen signed by the Sub-Divisional Engineer(SDE) Md. Tazul Islam of WDB , Cox’s Bazar.
On the other hand the members of the landless fishermen formed a human chain on Wednesday (June19) to suspend the eviction program. They claimed that they had permanent establishments on the bank of Naf river but were devoured by the river. Losing everything they took shelter on the embankments. If they are evicted in this rainy season they will not get any place to live.
Fisherman Abdul Ghani told Barta24.com that we welcome the reconstruction of the embankment but the short time given to leave the place is absurd. So we are appealing to WDB to allow us to stay here during the rainy season.
Former UP member Abdus Salam told Barta24.com that more than two hundred poor landless fishermen have been living on the bank of Naf river. Fish catching is stopped for the last two years. They are now leading a substandard human life. If they are evicted now they will be simply helpless.
He further said that most of these people have no financial ability to remove their establishments at their own cost. So these people should be provided helps and cooperation in their rehabilitation process.
WDB Sub-Assistant Engineer Mizanur Rahman told Barta 24.com that the repair work of the polders from Ukhia to Naf is going on to develop the security measure on Bangladesh – Myanmar border. So in the interest of that work the fishermen of Shahpori island have been instructed to make it vacate.
UNO of Teknaf Md. Rabiul Hassan told Barta24.com that it is not realistic on the part of the poor fishermen to remove the establishments in this rainy season so the time should be extended under humanitarian consideration.