An eviction drive to remove illegal embankments from the historic Rongin Khal in Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar has brought relief to around 10,000 residents after years of chronic waterlogging.
The Maghnama Union Parishad on Thursday continued its large-scale operation for the third consecutive day to restore the canal’s natural flow and remove illegal structures that had blocked it for about 15 years.
During the drive, authorities demolished a large illegal embankment at Kazir Market in Maghnama Union. As water began flowing through the canal again, residents expressed hope that the long-standing drainage problem would finally be resolved.
Standing at the site, local resident Fatema Begum, 42, said even light rainfall had previously inundated homes and cropland because of the embankment.
‘We suffered immensely. During heavy rain, there was not even enough dry land to bury the dead. With the canal flowing again, we hope our lives and livelihoods will return to normal,’ she said.
Farmer Shafiul Alam, 55, said restoring the canal would also revive local fishing activities.
‘People will once again be able to earn a living by fishing in Rongin Khal. But removing the embankment alone is not enough. The government should permanently recover the occupied land and re-excavate the canal so that no influential group can seize it again,’ he said.
According to local sources, the operation began at about 11:00 am in the Kazir Market and Ward No. 7 areas under Maghnama Union, led by Union Parishad chairman Mohammad Yunus Chowdhury.
The embankment demolished on Thursday had allegedly been constructed illegally by Manik Chowdhury, son of the late Akter Kamal.
Local officials said Rongin Khal, excavated during the British colonial period, once served as the main drainage channel for several surrounding villages, including Shuddhakhali, Ebadullah Para, Maulvidea, Kalar Para, Bedarbil Para and Kudailladia.
However, over the past 15 years, influential encroachers reportedly blocked the canal with embankments to establish fish enclosures and farms on government land. The obstructions caused widespread artificial waterlogging, inundating homes, roads, educational institutions and cemeteries during the rainy season.
After the operation, Union Parishad chairman Mohammad Yunus Chowdhury said the eviction campaign would continue until the canal was completely freed from encroachment.
He said the home minister had instructed the authorities not to tolerate any illegal occupation of public land.
Previous attempts to remove these embankments failed due to political pressure. We have now targeted the removal of 58 illegal embankments and fishing nets, and 13 of them have already been cleared,’ he said.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Collected
