Another betel leaf garden 'torched' in Jhenidah
Another betel leaf garden on 100 bighas of land burns as criminals set fire to it at Khorda Roygram village under Kaliganj upazila of Jhenidah district yesterday. Photo: STAR
Another 'mysterious' fire yesterday destroyed betel leaves worth Tk 5 cr on 100 bighas at a garden at Khorda Roygram village under Kaliganj upazila in Jhenidah. While visiting the spot the affected owners, mostly Hindus, told this correspondent that this was for the third time that criminals belonging to some dishonest influential people have torched betel leaf gardens. Most of them have borrowed money from different banks and NGOs. Besides, they took loan from different betel leaf wholesalers in Dhaka. Bhanu Mallik, Amal Sen, Nimai Das and Arup Sen of Khorda Raigram village said, they took loan from Grameen bank. How will we repay the loan and maintain family?, the worried farmers said. Elderly Krishna Gopal Mitra said, seeing the fire he rushed to the spot and informed fire service. After 35 minutes fire fighter units from Kotchandpur and Jhenidah Sadar reached the spot and extinguished the fire with the help of villagers, he said. Betel leaf garden owner Palash Das of Khorda Raigram village said the fire incident followed a political feud in the village between BNP and AL. But he would not give details for fear of reprisal. Ashit Das said, he has no other means for living. “If this goes on how we will cultivate betel leaf and maintain our family?,” he said. Earlier on February 2, betel leaves on 11 bighas were gutted in the same village causing around Tk 60 lakh loss to the farmers. On March 10 betel leaves on 7 bighas were gutted in the same village. Hundreds of locals later demanded setting up a fire station at Kaliganj upazila for urgent action in case of fire incidents in the area. They said each upazila but Kaliganj has fire service office. Firemen of Kotchandpur upazila said, the loss due to the devastating fire will be around Tk 2 crore. But the victims and locals estimated the loss at more then Tk 5 crore. Superintendent of police Rezaul Islam, local lawmaker Abdul Mannan, Kaliganj upazila chairman Anwarul Azim, Kaliganj upazila UNO Anjuman Ara Begum and AL leaders Israil Hossain and others visited the spot and expressed their grave concern. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rama Rani Roy said she visited the spot but nobody opened mouth in this regard. She said she will investigate the incidents and take necessary action against the culprits.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments