River shown ‘stagnant’ for fish farming

Mukteshwari leased to fish farmers with ruling party links since 1980
The Daily Star
The land ministry may soon lease out a 125.69-acre stretch of the Mukteshwari river by showing it “stagnant”.
The lease, now awaiting final approval at the ministry, is based on recommendations from the Jessore district administration, said sources in the local admin.
Earlier, on instructions from the ministry, the district administration had a report drawn up on the condition of the river.
The report, prepared by the Sadar upazila nirbahi officer, identifies the Mukteshwari as “ineffective and stagnant except for the rainy season”.
But locals allege the river is portrayed as stagnant or moribund so that it can be leased to fish farmers.
They also say the administration never points out that it is fish farming by building dykes across the leased river, which is to be blamed for the nearly choked-up Mukteshwari.
Speaking in return for anonymity, a land official in Jessore said the river is being shown stagnant and unusable to bypass the recent government order that says no river or canal being used by people could be leased out.
Leasing out parts of the river is nothing new. It has been in practice since 1980, violating the river laws.
The district administration was the leasing authority before the land ministry took up the responsibility this year.
No matter which party is in power, the leasing goes on, and so does fish farming.
A curse to the villagers, the leasing has always benefitted individuals with ruling party connections.
Over the years, fish enclosures have contributed to a huge build-up of silt on the river.
During the rainy season, silt deposits cause the Mukteshwari to flood, causing sufferings to thousands of people living in villages on the banks.
Despite this, the land ministry is considering approving a fresh lease, as the earlier one expired in April, said sources in the district administration.
Contacted, Land Secretary Atharul Islam said he knows a process was on to lease out a stretch of the river. He however would not elaborate on the matter.
Jessore Deputy Commissioner Nurul Islam said he has joined the post only recently and does not know much about the leasing move.
“I will examine everything in this regard to find how a flowing river is being leased out,” he added.
In November last year, people of the affected villages requested the district administration not to allow fish farming for it damages their crops and homesteads.
But instead of taking any measures to save the river and end public sufferings, the authorities once again are leasing out part of it.
This year, the administration has recommended three fishermen’s cooperatives for lease. They are Pakdia, Sreepur and Dhakuria Matsyajibi Samity.
Sadar AL Organising Secretary Shahrul Islam and relatives of party leaders Alauddin Mukul and Habib Khan are behind formation of the cooperatives.
They have set up those allegedly using names of some fishermen on the understanding that one-fourth of the profits will go to the fishermen, said local sources.
Shahrul, who had a lease on the river from 2007 to 2010, however denies the allegation.
He said he has kept himself off the cooperatives as the AL government has taken a stance against river-leasing.
Meanwhile, Pakdia Matsyajibi Samity has already begun fish cultivation in a portion of the river, though the ministry has not finalised the lease yet.
During a recent visit, these correspondents found the river at several points shrunk to 10 metres from once 50 metres due to earth-filling over the years.
Bamboo-made fences were seen at no less than 20 points, blocking boat-plying and locals’ access to the river.
“People cannot even take a dip in the river, let alone fishing or other use,” said Hemanta Hrishi of Datta Para village.
The condition of the river is worst on 22.03 acres between Dhakuria and Brahmapur, as that part has been turned into a fish enclosure.
Sadar Fisheries Officer Oliur Rahman, who did a field study on the river, said navigability of the Mukteshwari has largely been reduced since Khata khal, a link canal to Kapathakkha, diverts much of the river water.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (Bela), said, “This is illegal…leasing out a river claiming it dead or saying there is less water flow. The government should rather dredge the river to save it.”

Courtesy of The Daily Star