Karatoa River soil being sold before completion of restoration work

Recently, the second phase of excavation work began on the Karatoa River in Bogura. However, before completing the project, the Water Development Board (WDB) started selling the excavated soil. This has raised concerns about damage to agricultural land, and many farmers have already suffered financial losses.

About a month ago, excavation work started under the Karatoa River Development Project. Shockingly, even before the work began, on November 10 last year, the Water Development Board sold the soil from the Karatoa River in Bogura. Not only that, but currently, excavation work and the transportation of soil by trucks are happening simultaneously.

Asadul Haque, the Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Water Development Board in Bogura, stated that 1.57 million cubic feet of soil from a 900-meter stretch (both banks) of the river—from Banani Bridge to Mahashmashan (South Bejora) Ghat—were sold through a tender. The soil was purchased by Mainul Akhter Imi for 625,000 BDT. The WDB is responsible for excavating and measuring the soil before the leaseholder can transport it.

When asked why the soil was sold before excavation, he explained that the first phase of excavation for this 900-meter section was supposed to be completed earlier but was delayed for various reasons, leading to this situation.

Farmers’ Complaints Ignored
Local farmers alleged that although the WDB had not yet handed over the soil to Mainul Islam Imi, he had already started transporting it from the Karatoa River using trucks. At the same time, the excavation work is ongoing.

On February 26, 58 affected farmers from South Bejora submitted a written appeal to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bogura to protect the low-lying agricultural land along the Karatoa River. However, the farmers claim that the DC has taken no action on their request.

Mainul Akhter Imi, the leaseholder, asserted that he would transport the soil in compliance with the regulations. However, the WDB allowed soil transportation before setting boundaries for the excavation. Since March 1 (Saturday) morning, trucks have been transporting soil, with around 200–300 truckloads taken that day alone.

Farmers reported that the excavation work had already damaged their agricultural land, forcing them to halt cultivation. The farmlands near the riverbanks are very low-lying and prone to flooding. If soil were used to fill the fields, it would benefit the farmers. However, the soil buyers and their workers have created a climate of fear in the village, insisting they will take all the soil.

Md. Humayun Kabir, the Sub-Divisional Engineer of the WDB in Bogura, stated that 15% of the soil would be allocated to the affected farmers. He assured that arrangements would be made to ensure they receive it.

However, local farmers claim that despite the damage to their land, the WDB has taken no action. The soil leaseholder’s workers are preventing them from receiving any soil for their fields. Even the small amount of soil that had fallen onto agricultural land is being collected and removed by the leaseholder’s team. They insist on taking all the soil.

When contacted, Bogura Deputy Commissioner Hosna Afroza said that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Water Development Board. If a complaint was submitted to her office, it had been forwarded to the WDB. If the complaint has not yet reached the WDB, she would ensure that it does.

On the other hand, the farmers stated that when they submitted their appeal, the DC had assured them that the affected farmers would receive soil first, followed by the buyer. However, no action has been taken by the district administration so far.