The sand filling of a government-acquired pond is underway to construct a five-story building by the Family Planning Directorate, disregarding the restrictions of environmental law.
The Bangladesh Environmental Law Association (BELA) has filed a complaint with the Environment Directorate to halt the pond filling.
Upon visiting the site, it was discovered that three-quarters of a 33-decimal pond at the Mother and Child Welfare Centre of the Directorate of Family Planning and the National Institute of Population Research and Training Centre (NIPORT) on BM School Road, under ward 19 of BCC, are being filled with sand.
A local tea shopkeeper mentioned that a large number of trucks carrying sand were engaged in filling the pond throughout Thursday night and early Friday.
Investigations of the Family Planning Department and local land office revealed that although 33 decimal of the land is documented as a pond in Bogra Alekanda Mauza, 1,611 Khatian, and 2,454 Dag, the pond has now been transformed into a low-lying area for the construction of a five-storey building.
Showkat Ali, head of the Regional Population Training Institute in Barisal, claimed ownership of the land last year, citing the existence of the pond.
Barisal Deputy Director of Family Planning Mizanur Rahman stated that a five-storey building would be constructed, housing the 50-bed hospital, the family planning department, and the Sadar Upazila Parishad building.
He added: "The place is now a low-lying area—does any 'pond' still exist?"
Despite being referred to as a “pond” in all land documents, when questioned about the project, he said: "I have only been here for a year; all the work on this project was done before my tenure. The ministry can provide more information."
Lincoln Bayan, coordinator of BELA, Barisal, highlighted that filling any pond or water body is a punishable offence according to the Environment Act 2000, amended in 2005, even if it is one's own property.
A complaint against the pond filling was submitted to the district office of the Department of Environment on Thursday. However, as the Department of Environment is indifferent to the complaints, the pond filling continues.
AH Rashed, Deputy Director of the departmental office of the Department of Environment, suggested that the district office should investigate.
Kamal Mehdi, Deputy Director, Directorate of Environment, Barisal District, mentioned that after receiving the complaint, they dispatched their office staff, Rafiq Miah, to visit the site and instructed everyone to refrain from filling the pond.
