Save River Nature

The upazila administration with the help of a ruling party lawmaker is building a market on the bank of the river Ramnabad at Golachipa in the name of protecting the town from tidal surge.

Bizarre it may sound - even after the land administration of Golachipa upazila informed about the wrongdoing the upazila administration sanctioned 100 metric tonnes (MT) of rice under the government's Test Relief project to finance it.

Without specifying the amount of money Golam Mowla Roni, Awami League MP of Patuakhali-3, claims to have financially contributed to the so-called 'Golachipa New Market' project.

During a visit to the spot this correspondent found a brick wall being erected on a stretch of 1150 feet by 380 feet area by the bank of the river. Earth filling was also going on.

Barisal district environment department, Golachipa municipality as well as the upazila land administration -- all termed the market project illegal and unauthorised.

The lawmaker, however, told The Daily Star, 'I have taken the initiative to build a new market along the riverside as it will protect the town and also serve the interests of local businessmen.'

He claimed that the would-be market will not obstruct the natural water flow of the river and said, 'I'll distribute shops among local businessmen as per government policy.”

Golachipa Municipality Mayor Abdul Wahab Khalifa told The Daily Star that the market is being built without any prior permission from the municipality though such approval is required to raise any commercial structures within the municipality areas.

When contacted Golachipa Assistant Commissioner of Land Mohammad Jahangir said, “It is government's khas land and the land office has not given allotment to anyone. Even nobody has sought any permission from us for building any establishment.”

“I informed my higher officials of the matter,” he said without any further details.

Deputy Director for Environment Department in Barisal Kaysar Ahmed expressed his department's ignorance about such initiative and said, “It's illegal to fill the land of a river and it will obstruct the normal water flow.”

Golakhali Union Parishad Chairman Razzak Mia acknowledged that the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) sanctioned 100 MT rice under the government Test Relief project to complete the market project and he himself is overseeing it.

When contacted Abul Kasem Md Mohiuddin, UNO of Golachipa, told this correspondent, “A step has been taken to develop the land on the riverbank. After developing the land, allotments will be given to local businessmen through land office by marking the area as non-agricultural land.”

“Roni, lawmaker for Patuakhali-3 (Golachiapa-Dashmina), has taken the step to build a new market on the riverbank and he is also financially contributing to the project,” the UNO added.

Load shading position in Bangladesh

Load shading position in Bangladesh is a regular matter. All over the country people are frustrated to see the load shading condition in the country. Electricity is a major fundamental needs among others in every body's life. This sector are fully controlled by the Government. But for a long time People are deprived from the government to get this essential service uninterruptedly. Government are cheating with common people with this essential service. This is not a new problem for Bangladesh. It has been hanging for a long time.

When Sheikh Hasina was in power in previous term she declared that electricity crisis will be solved soon but still now you are seeing zero result. After Hasina's tenure BNP ruled the country for two terms but this government is also failed to supply electricity properly. So from the beginning the people has been suffering this problem very seriously. No government took the proper and pragmatic steps to remove this problem.

City area people are facing this problem very seriously. Dhaka city is unplanned city. So normal wind flowing is restricted by scattered building position all over the city. Everyday Government stop electricity for at least one hour in a certain area. This way they are providing, managing and distributing electricity to the city area. Prime minister, minister secretary are not facing this problem. They have special arrangements for 24 hours electricity service. So they cannot realize the inconveniences of common people.

The problem is only for common people. Specially Dhaka people are facing this problem tremendously. Without electricity they cannot sleep at night, student cannot prepare their lesson properly. So, school, college and University student are most affected group from the electricity crisis in Bangladesh.

According the electricity sub-minister Mr Anuarul Hoque the total daily electricity demand is 4000 to 5200 Mgw and production is only 3500-4200Mgw. So 500-1200 Mgw is the total daily shortage of electricity.People have to struggle for electricity one more era? It is really fantastic and unskilled declaration from the Government.

People want to see electricity crisis immediately. If Government want sincerely to solve this problem, they can but they are playing with common people they are showing negligence in their duty and responsibilities.

To get rid of electricity shortage Government should learn from other developing countries like Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. People do not know what is load shading in those countries. They are getting proper service from the government. Bangladesh Government should learn from them on urgent basis to solve this power shortage problem.

Money and Manpower both are present in Bangladesh to solve electricity crisis. Due to proper culture of their brain it is not going to be solved soon. That's why people are struggling a lot for a long time. Industry and mill factory are also disrupted badly from regular production in manufacturing sector . So ultimately country is staying back to achieve its economic growth.

Finally, we will expect from Government to implement their promise without any fail. At the same time opposition parties should pledge and follow the present Government's policy to implement the adopted project for removing electricity crisis from the country without any interfere on the running project.

This is a great and principal job for government and opposition parties to remove scarcity of electricity. Nobody has right to adopt any unfair means and bribery process to keep back and neglect people's life related any valuable project to implement. If Government and political parties really love the country and love the common people, then it is possible to remove load shading from the country.