Soil has long been cut at night from the haors of Sunamganj and sold, to the detriment of farmers, but marginal growers say they are too afraid to speak out. Because the soil-selling ring is influential, it remains beyond reach, and anyone who opens their mouth faces harassment.

Paddy worth about Tk 4,500 crore is produced every year in the 137 haors of Sunamganj. Among them, Dekhar haor is a major source of Boro rice and a store of biodiversity. Farmers grow paddy worth about Tk 20 crore there, keeping the marginal economy of the haor going, yet excavators are cutting into it for a booming soil trade. Kanda land and uncultivated land recorded as state-owned khas land is being dug up and carried by truck to different parts of the district to fill ponds, water bodies, canals and low-lying land. A dishonest syndicate has already made about a crore taka from the trade, which is carried on in full view of the administration.

When a journalist visited Dekhar haor, the excavator driver, Ruhul Amin, tried to leave the machine and run away. Though confronted, he did not disclose his name. Later, when a number was called, the syndicate told the driver to lock the vehicle and leave.

It is not only Dekhar haor. Unchecked soil cutting in 15 haors across five upazilas of the district, including Bishwambharpur, Dowarabazar and Madhyanagar, is alarmingly shrinking grazing land, seedbeds and farmland. Several lakh farmers in the five upazilas are worried not only about drying their paddy in the haor or storing it this year, but about how they will even carry the harvested rice home.

Sultan Mia, a farmer in Dekhar haor, told Jago News that farmers are being badly hurt by the way soil is being cut freely from the haor. "Nobody can talk out of fear. Whoever speaks is harassed in various ways. The administration should keep a close watch on this," he said.

Swapan Mia, a farmer in Karchar haor, told Jago News that soil is being cut and sold from the haor all night. "This is truly sad. There is no sign of the administration taking action," he said.

Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Elias Mia told Jago News that a new law has been made to remedy and prevent land crimes, and that those involved in cutting soil from the haors will be brought to book under it.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.