Border-demarcation crisis makes fisheries cultivation in Muhuri Project uncertain
Friday, 6 July 2007
Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, July 4: The planned cultivation of fish under the Muhuri Project in over 5,000 acres of land, lying in between Mirsarai Upazila of Chittagong and Sonagazi Upazila of Feni, has become uncertain due to the complications rising from border-demarcation issue.
Besides hampering the project's normal production of a huge quantity of fish of different species, worth billions of taka, serious clashes among the inhabitants of these two upazilas can occur at any time because of the border issue, said sources.
With the emergence of 'char' in the river Feni, 'khas' lands were allotted among the local landless people and family members of martyred freedom fighters of Mirsarai Upazila in 1986-87 by the government.
After that, fish cultivation began in a planned manner in the 'khas' lands that gradually turned into a profitable fisheries development project.
Later, sporadic clashes as well as capturing and re-capturing of land began in the project area, claiming a number of precious lives during last two decades.
According to the sources, Sonagazi Upazila administration wants to occupy the vast land of the Muhuri Project through the thana-based map, though the genuine allottees of Mirsarai, investing billions of taka, have long been engaged in fish cultivation there.
Conscious quarters now opt for an amicable settlement of the border-related crisis of the project through holding quick and effective discussion between the administrations of the two warring upazilas.
CHITTAGONG, July 4: The planned cultivation of fish under the Muhuri Project in over 5,000 acres of land, lying in between Mirsarai Upazila of Chittagong and Sonagazi Upazila of Feni, has become uncertain due to the complications rising from border-demarcation issue.
Besides hampering the project's normal production of a huge quantity of fish of different species, worth billions of taka, serious clashes among the inhabitants of these two upazilas can occur at any time because of the border issue, said sources.
With the emergence of 'char' in the river Feni, 'khas' lands were allotted among the local landless people and family members of martyred freedom fighters of Mirsarai Upazila in 1986-87 by the government.
After that, fish cultivation began in a planned manner in the 'khas' lands that gradually turned into a profitable fisheries development project.
Later, sporadic clashes as well as capturing and re-capturing of land began in the project area, claiming a number of precious lives during last two decades.
According to the sources, Sonagazi Upazila administration wants to occupy the vast land of the Muhuri Project through the thana-based map, though the genuine allottees of Mirsarai, investing billions of taka, have long been engaged in fish cultivation there.
Conscious quarters now opt for an amicable settlement of the border-related crisis of the project through holding quick and effective discussion between the administrations of the two warring upazilas.