Criminals torch another betel leaf garden
Sudeb Das gives a bleak look at his betel leaf garden at Khordo Roygram village in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenidah district as criminals destroyed it by arson early yesterday.Photo: STAR
A devastating fire destroyed betel leaves on seven bighas at Khorda Roygram village under Kaliganj upazila yesterday. The affected garden owners are Jadab Kumar Das, Santosh Das, Ananda Das, Joydeb Das, Sudeb Das, Bijoy Samaddar and Ajit Das. The land owners told this correspondent that a local criminal gang torched their leaf gardens destroying leaves worth Tk 35 lakh. Sudeb Das of Khorda Raigram village said, he did not know how he would repay the loan and maintain his family now. Uzzal Roy, an elderly farmer said, he informed the firemen immediate by after he noticed the fire but they came after 35 minutes with five fire fighting vehicles from Kotchandpur and Sadar upazila. Earlier a fire on February 13, betel leaves on 11 bighas were torched in the same village by criminals destroying leaves worth Tk 60 lakh, farmers said. Garden owner Joydeb Das said, he has no other means to earn for his family. "How can we survive if this goes on?," he posed. Hundreds of locals yesterday demanded a fire station at Kaliganj upazila. They said every upazila has a fire service office but Kaliganj. Contacted over cell phone, Kaliganj upazila UNO Anjuman Ara said, nobody lodged any complaint mentioning name of the criminals that allegedly set fire to betel leaf gardens. She said she would take necessary action after investigation.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments