A vested interest has allegedly been trying to grab a historic century-old pond in the Chirakandi Gopinath area under the district town for long.
As part of the ill move, the land grabbers started felling soil on the pond and they were threatening the locals of dire consequence as they took a stance against the misdeed.
Being informed, local Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon activists visited the pond yesterday.
Sources said the pond had been leased to one Abdus Salam by Habiganj Municipality about 21 years ago for fish cultivation, but he several years ago managed to secure a stay order of court on the lease showing it as loss project.
However, the municipality authorities meanwhile did not receive any copy of the order and it announced a fresh tender on the pond.
Recently, the land grabbers have evicted an ambulance station, which was set up on the bank of the pond by the administration, in the night and they planted saplings there and started the earth-filling on the pond, thanks to the poor vigilance of the law enforcers. On the other hand, the local residents also barely dared the wrongdoing openly in fear of possible attack from the vested quarters.
In this regard, a resident of the area named Abdur Rakib Rony said they locals have been repeatedly demanding the authorities concerned to save the pond from the land grabbers.
Habiganj Municipality Ward No 6 Councillor Jonayed Ahmed said a vested quarter has recently been felling earth on the pond illegally to grab it despite having a ban in this regard of the authorities concerned.
Even, the municipality authorities have already filed a case against the land grabbers, to which they were not paying any heed, the councillor continued.
Local BAPA General Secretary Tofazzal Sohel said: “Some influential people have long been trying to grab the historically important pond in connivance with several ruling party leaders. We are continuously raising voice against the ill move.”
When asked, the general secretary, however, could not specify the names of the leaders.
