136 families facing eviction in Kalapara demand rehabilitation

Proper rehabilitation of 136 landless families, including Zia Colony, who are under threat of eviction due to the construction of Payra Port road in Kalapara of Patuakhali, has been demanded.

In a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday (November 25), the family members, who were in fear of eviction, claimed this. Organized by Kalapara Environment and Public Safety Forum and Barisal Divisional Environment and Public Safety Forum.

Ibrahim Shikari, a member of the evicted family, said in a written statement, “Because we were homeless, in 2004, the then government gave us the opportunity to live on the banks of the Bangladesh Water Development Board embankment on the banks of the Andharmani River. After clearing the forest, we have been living on the slopes of the embankment for 20 years despite various adversities. Living outside the embankment means we are constantly exposed to various natural disasters, including cyclones, tidal waves and abnormal tidal inundations. Still, I have been living by fishing, working in brick kilns, construction workers and agricultural laborers. We have a child welfare primary school, a madrasa and a mosque in this settlement.

It was said in the press conference that Payra Port Authority has recently started the construction of a five and a half kilometer road from Payra Port Gate to Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Bridge over the embankment from the first terminal located at Lalua to the administrative building at Tiakhali as an alternative road to connect with the Dhaka-Kuakata Regional Road. Approximately 136 landless families living on the slopes of the embankment including our colony will be evicted to construct this road. Bangladesh Water Development Board owns the land where we live. As a result, we came to know that even if we were evicted, no compensation or rehabilitation would be given.

Complaining, Ibrahim Shikari said, on the one hand, 3 thousand 423 families affected by the land acquisition of Payra port are being rehabilitated gradually. On the other hand we are not being given any kind of rehabilitation, compensation or assistance as we are landless. As a result we are going to be homeless again. We have no problem with the government building roads if needed. But the government should look at those of us who are landless along the road. We don't want a job, compensation, any other benefits, we just want a place to take care of our family.

EAR/KSR