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Dispute over leasing stops fishing in Chamuar Beel

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari
The upazila administration has imposed temporary restriction on catching fish in Chamuar Beel, a 4.43-acre water body in Sonarai union of Domar upazila under the district, as two groups of fishermen are at loggerheads over taking possession of the water body.
This situation has arisen as the upazila administration allowed two individual fishermen, instead of local fishermen's cooperative society styled Naba Chetona Matsyajibi Samobai Samity, to cultivate fish in the khas (government owned) water body.
"This year upazila water body management committee called tenders from interested parties of fishermen's community for leasing Chamuar Beel but none participated," said Mizanur Rahman, assistant land officer of Sonarai union.
"Then upazila committee for collection of revenue from khas properties allowed fishermen Binod Das and Paresh Das to cultivate fish in Chamuar Beel and deposit revenue for the purpose. In the previous year also, none came forward to take lease and the committee allowed the two persons to cultivate fish there and they deposited only Tk 30,000 as revenue whereas the yearly lease money taken two years ago was 4.70 lakh,” he added.
This initiative of the upazila administration aggrieved the fishermen belonging to the cooperative society.
Around two months ago, local lawmaker of Jatiya Party leader Jafar Iqbal Siddiquee
requested the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Domar in writing to allow the cooperative society to cultivate fish, as they represent large majority of the local fishermen.
The lawmaker along with the cooperative society members also released spawn in the water body on the occasion of National Fishery Week in last July.
After that the society members tried to take control of the water body, Binod and Paresh and their men resisted, creating a tense situation.
Binod and Paresh claimed that the water body was handed over to them legally but the cooperative society members are creating chaos.
On the other hand, Monoranjan Das, general secretary of Naba Chetona Matsyajibi Samobai Samity, said, "As per government rule, fishermen's cooperative society members, not any individual, deserve the right to cultivate fish in the khas water body. A section of government officials are trying to mislead the UNO so that a vested groups can take control of the water body from behind by showing and financing the two fishermen for fish cultivation there."
Shafiul Islam, UNO of Domar, said, "I shall took into the matter. Efforts are on to solve the problem soon."
Talking to this correspondent, many fishermen of the area including Nokul, Kajol, Subash, Suresh and Bhabani have demanded quick withdrawal of the restriction on fishing in Chamuar Beel as their daily earning depends on fishing.