Barapukuria Coal Mine
Land subsidence victims attack survey team
A member of a land survey team was injured as the land subsidence victims around Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BMCL) attacked the team at Kalupara village yesterday morning.
The victim, Md Abul Kashem, a kanunga of Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's office, was taken to Phulbari Upazila Health Complex and later shifted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital College, officials said.
A four-member land survey team of Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's Office led by Additional Land Officer Md Moksed Ali yesterday started the land survey from Kalupara village, one of the areas worst affected areas due to land subsidence around the coal mine, BCMCL sources said.
As the survey team arrived at Kalupara village, the villagers carrying wooden and bamboo sticks attacked them.
They beat up Abul Kashem, leaving him injured.
Three other members of the team managed to escape and took shelter inside BCMCL compund.
When contacted, Md Abdul Jalil, GM (Administration) of BCMCL, admitted the incident.
On March 12, hundreds of people from land subsidence affected villages ended their 'fast unto death' programme after 53 hours as the BCMCL authorities pledged to compensate the land subsidence affected villagers within March this year.
But the authorities are yet to pay any compensation to the villagers, much to the grievance of people.
Affected people of 15 villages have been holding different programmes since January this year demanding compensation for subsidence of 646 acres of land in the area.
Villagers drove away the survey team, said Md Ibrahim Khalil, convener of Jibon O Sampad Rakkha Committee, a platform of land subsidence victims in Barapukuria.
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