Residents of Char Aicha on the outskirts of Barisal city Tuesday formed a human chain, protesting a decision by authorities to acquire private land instead of Khas land, for the construction of Barisal Marine Academy.
The rally was organized by Dakkhin Char Aicha Land Acquisition (proposed) Prevention Committee at Bibir Pukur Par area at noon in Barisal city, when they took out a procession and handed a memorandum to the district administration.
Javed Ali Molla, convener of the committee, presided at the rally, and various committee members including Mustafa Kamal, Emadul Huq, Abdus Shahid and Fazlul Huq spoke.
They said the deputy commissioner of Barisal had served a notice for land acquisition (case no.1/2013, dated 30-07-2013) asking land owners to vacate 11 acres of private land to construct the Barisal Marine Academy at Dakkhin Char Aicha Mouza.
Residents from the area complained to the deputy commissioner on August 10 because residential, institutional and agricultural establishments are located on the land to be procured.
Among them are Barisal Housing Society, a madrasa, an orphanage, secondary school, a hospital, and a couple of cold storage units, provide employment and livelihood to people in the area. People from the area said the acquisition of private land will lead to a humanitarian crisis in the area.
Residents have suggested suitable alternative sites for the academy, including 13.76 acres of Khas land which is an abandoned brick field of the Water Development Board, located about 300 yards away from the land proposed for acquisition, and large public land at Kalijira on the banks of the Suganda River.
On August 14, the deputy commissioner sent land officials to survey the alternative sites proposed by the committee.
However, private owners alleged corrupt officials have submitted a report to support acquisition of private land, so they can illegally allot various businesses private and public lands.
Deputy Commissioner of Barisal Shahidul Alam said the proposed site was selected by a committee connected with the construction of the Marine Academy.
He said land acquisition officials reported that the proposed site is better suited than the alternative locations suggested.
