Construction and land-filling activities are underway adjacent to the Katham-Kaliganj road in Bogura, causing anxiety among locals. Photo : Messenger
The agricultural lands of Nandigram in Bogura are under thread as industrial structures encroach upon them, causing anxiety among local residents and jeopardizing food security in the region.
Quality Livestock Limited has initiated construction and land-filling activities in the revered Badlashan field, located adjacent to the Katham-Kaliganj road, near the 'Dhakir Mor' municipality. Signboards have been conspicuously placed amid the fertile farmlands, with officials from Katham Quality Feeds Limited overseeing the construction efforts.
Alarming reports suggest that these operations are strategically altering the landscape by enticing farmers to sell their lands at inflated prices, leading to a shift away from agricultural purposes. This unplanned industrialization poses a dire threat to arable land, farmer livelihoods, and the local environment.
Russell Mahmud, Joint Member Secretary of the Upazila Jatiya Party, lodged a formal complaint with the Upazila Executive Officer on Monday. The complaint emphasizes the potential consequences of destroying agricultural land through land-filling and industrial construction, which may force farmers to sell surrounding properties, imperiling food crop production in the region. Urgent action has been requested to remove the under-construction structures.
The complaint further raises concerns about whether officials from government departments, including sub-registry offices and land offices, are involved in this irregularity. It calls for an investigation into the presence of environmental clearances for industrial and mill establishments on agricultural land and seeks appropriate measures.
Nandigram Upazila has long been renowned for its paddy cultivation and rice production, with agricultural products such as paddy, rice, mustard, and potatoes being supplied to various districts across the country, alleviating food shortages.
The complaint also highlights a previous incident where Quality Feeds Ltd. set up operations in the Katham Belagari area of Nandigram Upazila, purchasing and filling paddy agricultural land at premium prices to entice farmers. The factory has generated an overpowering stench, affecting air quality and endangering public health, including passengers on highways and local residents. This reckless factory establishment has diminished yields on surrounding paddy agricultural land and inflicted suffering on neighboring farmers due to contaminated waste.
Attempts to obtain comments from Katham Quality Feeds Ltd. General Manager Ataul Haque Mohan were unsuccessful. In response to the situation, Upazila Executive Officer Humayun Kabir stated that he had received the written complaint and assured that action would be taken after an on-site investigation.
Matlubar Rahman, Deputy Director of Bogura Agricultural Extension Department, emphasized that the government strictly discourages the reclassification of agricultural land, with a district-level committee overseeing approval processes based on specific requirements.
Assistant Director of Bogura Environment Department, Mahathir bin Mohammad, confirmed that they would investigate the matter and take appropriate action following the receipt of the written complaint. Quality Livestock Limited's application for locational clearance with the Department of Environment is currently under review, but has not yet been approved. The situation remains in progress.
Messenger/Disha
