Kumlai River in the Gayabari area of the Dimlai upazila of Nilphamari is on the brink of extinction. Turned into cropland, the river has mostly been covered by illegal structures including the Sathibari and Motibari bazaars and hundreds of houses.
The encroachment has thus left the once fast-flowing Kumlai River almost dead.
Locals demand restoration of river-culture
River encroachment leads to loss of cultures that grew up centering the river. Locals of Dimla are facing the same fate. Hence, they are now demanding restoration of those cultures by demolishing these illegal installations.
Locals said: Influential people of the area have grabbed most of the lands and have shrewdly installed the Hafizia madrasa, an orphanage, mosques and such many other religious constructions.
“As a child, I saw traders from distant locations coming here for commerce. Big boats sailed here. There used to be “Nouka Baich” (boat race). Thousands of people gathered on the river banks to enjoy”, said Ansar Ali, 64, a local of the Gayabari union.
“The river has now been grabbed by influential people”, he added.
Monsur Ali, 53, a local of Tepakhribari, said: The river path has been blocked for rice mills, cleats for drying paddies, small factories, and houses. Once there were swimming competitions. But now, due to lack of rivers and water in them, children barely know how to swim.”
“The river has dried up into crop fields, markets, educational institutions and is nothing but a dead water-body,” he added.
Water Development Board Work Assistant Bin Rashid said: The Kumlai River source lies in India, and enters the border from the Gayabari and Khalishachapani unions through the Purbachhatnai Dolpara union under the Dimla upazila in Nilphamari. The Purbachhatna covers almost 15 acres of the river land”.
“Almost 11.81 acres of its land has been grabbed illegally”, he added.
However, while most of the locals demand the demolishing of illegal installations, there are also many who oppose. Having invested everything to build a home filling the river in, this might turn some locals homeless, overnight.
“After much hardship and investment, we built our house filling the river in. Where shall I go with all my children if the government decides to demolish it?” questioned Narjina Begum, 38, wife of Alif Hossain who had built the house filling the river in 2013.
High Court to rescue rivers
With encroachers feasting on river lands all over the country for many years, it was high time government had embarked on a full throttle drive to free the river shores from illegal occupants.
According to a recent High Court order, river land grabbers have been made ineligible for bank loans and election participation.
On February 2, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury sounded a strong warning that no encroachers would be spared during the eviction drives.
Nilphamari Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) (revenue) Shahinur Alam said: "All the rivers of Nilphamari are being surveyed as well as the Kumlai river. After the survey, notices will be sent to district administrators to start the eviction accordingly.”
