A ring of fishers' cooperatives trying to lease Gotaura Haorkhal (closed), the largest water body in Hakaluki haor at Barlekha in Moulvibazar, at a low price has been broken. The administration halted the first open auction and held it again, raising government revenue by about Tk 48 lakh.

Because of litigation in the High Court, the upazila administration put the beel up for open auction for one year. Twenty-two registered fishers' cooperative societies took part in the auction at the Hakaluki union land office on Tuesday. The water body was leased for about Tk 2 crore last year, but this time a secret understanding among the bidders kept the highest bid to Tk 50.5 lakh.

Some influential people allegedly tried to persuade the officials present to lease it at that price. After protests from local residents, the upazila nirbahi officer and the assistant commissioner (land) suspended the auction, and on the advice of the upazila and district water body management committees a fresh open auction was held on Thursday afternoon.

Sixty-six fishers' cooperative societies took part the second time. With a top bid of Tk 80 lakh - a little over Tk 98 lakh including VAT and income tax - Bholarkandi Fishers' Cooperative Society won the lease, with Chhayad Ahmed bidding for the society.

Assistant commissioner (land) Naima Nadia said the first day's bid had been suspended in the government's interest because it was not at the expected level, and Bholarkandi Fishers' Cooperative Society had been chosen as the highest bidder at the re-auction held on the instructions of senior authorities.

Local residents who protested say it was the breaking of the syndicate that allowed 66 societies to bid the second time.

Reported by the Moulvibazar correspondent of Samakal.

Source: Samakal