Polli Sheva Society (PSS) and Green Mind Society yesterday demanded immediate steps to stop filling Dumini-Boulmari Khal (canal) in Dumini Union under Khilkhet Police Station by encroachers.
PSS and the society leaders, at a token eviction drive on Dumini canal held in front of National Press Club in the city, said a land grabbing organisation has been filling Dumini canal for the last few days, violating a High Court (HC) order.
HC on January 9 ordered a stop to filling Dumini canal with earth following a writ petition, says a press release.
The HC also directed Dhaka District Administration, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner and officers-in-charge of Khilkhet Police Station to take proper steps in this regard.
Referring Dumini canal as the lifeline of Dumini Union as several thousand people’s livelihood is based on it, the leaders said the land grabbers were grabbing parts of the canal since long and now are trying to grab it completely.
Farmers cannot irrigate due to scarcity of water resulting from the land filling, leaving several thousand people jobless, they said.
Leaders also said once the government fails to save Dhaka’s rivers and canals, it would become inhospitable.
PSS Executive Director KM Rokibul Islam Ripon, the society President Amir Hossain, Unnayan Dhara Trust Member Secretary Aminur Rasul, Campaign for Development Organisation Secretary Utpal Das and Shammilita Joladhar Rokkhya Andolon Member Secretary Syed Saiful Alam were also present at the programme.
