Part of the excavation site of Khalisakandi Modhyopara village in Bogura’s Shajahanpur upazila.
Photo: Masum Hossain –
Masum Hossain-
Two and a half kilometers from Shajahanpur Police Station in Bogura lies at Khalisakandi Modhyopara village. In the village, the soil has been removed illegally from cropland for four years. Cutting of the earth was not stopped despite many complaints from the villagers. The upazila administration has failed to stop soil removal even after running several raids there. Finally, to save the village’s cropland, the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) wants a police outpost to be set up there!
There is an allegation that Nuruzzaman, chairman of Majhira Union Parishad in Shajahanpur upazila, is removing the soil from the village’s cropland. He is a listed ‘criminal’ of the Upazila. The earth is being dug up in the presence of his gang. As a result, the farmers themselves are forced to hand over their lands to the earth robbers out of fear.
Locals said in 2019, Nuruzzaman started the first topsoil removal from 44 decimals of cropland in Khalisakandi Modhyopara village. By 2023, the amount has increased to more than 60 bighas. Their eyes get moist with tears when they look at the excavation site. The earth is excavated in the village every day from night to dawn and then is sent by truck to the brick kiln.
On condition of anonymity, a resident of the village said over the phone, “Nuruzzaman, a listed criminal of the upazila, is extracting soil illegally. No one in the village is openly protesting because of fear. The upazila administration is not coming forward to protect the cropland from the earth robbers. Now we are silently watching the destruction of our cropland.”
He also said, “Farmers around that point of land are also being forced to sell theirs because the surrounding land is also being damaged due to excavation of 30-40 feet deep. Also, the soil is excavated from others’ lands even without buying them. Later, the farmers were forced to sell their lands to the earth robbers. They are not complaining in fear of losing their lives.”
Sohrab Hossain Shyamal, a villager, said, “Nuruzzaman started excavating the soil in Khalisakandi Madhyapara a couple of months ago. The surrounding croplands are also affected. Farmers are also being forced to sell their lands. There is no benefit in going to the upazila administration. After the UNO or AC (Land) leaves the scene, the soil robbers start digging again.”
When asked, UP Chairman Nuruzzaman said, “I am not involved in soil extraction in the village. One Saidur Rahman Khokon is renovating the pond there. He may be using my name to avoid trouble.”
Villager Sohrab Hossain Shyamal said, “Nuruzzaman has been excavating the soil there since the very beginning. His associate Khokon, a resident of Khalisakandi village, took care of the excavation site.”
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Saiful Islam said, “Efforts are being made to stop the soil extraction from cropland at Khalisakandi Modhyapara village. Shajahanpur UNO and the officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station have been instructed to take measures to stop soil removal.”
UNO Saida Khanam said, “When we went to conduct the operation, the people involved in the excavation ran away from the scene. Several raids have been conducted there. But none involved was found. Everyone left the truck and ran away.”
She further said, “A police outpost is needed in the village to stop illegal soil removal. Otherwise, it is not possible to stop those people involved in illegal earth extraction.”
