Sirajganj farmers struggle as BSCIC Park blocks vital access route

Selim Reza, Sirajganj :

The newly established BSCIC Industrial Park has caused significant distress to over 350 families in Belutia village, Sirajganj Sadar upazila, due to the closure of their sole access route.

Approximately 2,000 residents are now facing severe difficulties when entering or leaving the village. Among them, school-going children, elderly individuals, and critically ill patients are the worst affected. Despite several verbal appeals from the villagers, their concerns have not been addressed.

The former chairman of Kalia Haripur Union Parishad, Md. Sabur Ali Sheikh, had assured the villagers of establishing an alternative route. However, this promise remained unfulfilled as he went into hiding following political changes after the July-August uprising.

According to local residents, the issue has arisen due to a flawed planning process by the BSCIC authorities, who failed to allocate space for the movement of villagers when designing the Industrial Park. Instead, the BSCIC authorities have erected a boundary wall, blocking the only access road.

It has been reported that the BSCIC, under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry, has developed the Industrial Park on approximately 400 acres of land on the western side of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge.

The park covers several areas, including Chhatiyantoli, West Mohonpur, Bonbaria, Beltiya, and Morgram Mouza, at a cost of around Tk 719.21 crore.

As the park is designated a restricted area for unauthorised individuals, the BSCIC authorities have constructed a high boundary wall around the premises, cutting off the villagers’ only access route.

Belutia village, situated about half a kilometre east of the Industrial Park along the western bank of the Jamuna River, now lacks any viable alternative routes.

During the rainy season, villagers can rely on boats for transportation; however, in the dry season, they are left with no alternative but to climb over the boundary wall, which poses significant risks, especially for women, elderly individuals, and children.

The transportation of heavy goods such as agricultural produce, fertilisers, and daily necessities has become extremely challenging. Villagers also face difficulties in bringing essential supplies from local markets.

Sanowar Hossain, a farmer from Belutia village, stated, “Most residents are farmers who sustain their livelihoods by cultivating Char lands. We already face numerous natural disasters such as river erosion and floods. The closure of our only access road has added further hardship, leaving us deeply disheartened.”

Another farmer, Nur Mohammad, expressed his frustration, saying, “We can no longer transport our goods to town or other areas due to the road closure. We are forced to climb over the boundary wall to carry goods, but vehicles cannot pass. This situation has left us in a dire predicament.”

He further added that the former Union Parishad Chairman, Md. Sabur Ali Sheikh, had promised to arrange an alternative route but disappeared following the fall of the Awami League government. Similarly, Project Director Jafar Bayazid, who had previously assured assistance, has since been promoted and is no longer accessible.

A recent visit to the site revealed villagers climbing over the boundary wall to transport their goods, including fertilisers, seeds, and food grains. With the dry season in effect, boat transportation is no longer an option, exacerbating their difficulties.

Efforts to contact Jafar Bayazid, the Project Director of the BSCIC Industrial Park and Regional Director of the Rajshahi office, for comment were unsuccessful. He did not respond to phone calls or messages sent via WhatsApp.

Some villagers, speaking anonymously, have indicated that they may resort to stronger protests with the support of local students and the wider public if immediate action is not taken. They have also appealed for the intervention of the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner, Muhammad Nazrul Islam, to resolve the issue and alleviate their suffering.