Locals Return Majority of Stolen Concrete Blocks from Netrokona Flood Protection Embankment
Photo Collected
MOHANGANJ, NETROKONA — Authorities have recovered 1,578 concrete blocks out of 2,250 that were looted from a flood protection embankment in the Dingapota haor region of Netrokona. The blocks, which were part of a government infrastructure project, have been returned to the site by the individuals who initially removed them between Sunday evening and Wednesday.
The theft occurred along the Charhaizada embankment, a critical 61-kilometer flood defense project constructed between 2016 and 2017 to protect approximately 6,500 hectares of Boro rice crops. The project, which cost 396.4 million taka, serves as a vital safeguard for agricultural lands in both Mohanganj and neighboring Khaliajuri upazila. Reports of the looting emerged on August 18, when locals noticed the removal of blocks from a 250-meter section of the embankment near the Uttar Barantar market.
Enayet Hossain, a sub-assistant engineer with the Water Development Board (WDB), filed a general diary at the Mohanganj Police Station on August 23 following the incident. Sakhawat Hossain, the executive engineer of the WDB Netrokona office, stated that the stolen blocks were discovered being repurposed by local residents for various private uses, including constructing cattle sheds, building staircases leading into the haor, and protecting residential properties from wave erosion.
The recovery process followed allegations of intimidation by those involved in the looting. Bazlu Mia, a local businessman, reported that when he attempted to stop a group of approximately 25 individuals from Baniyahari village as they transported the blocks by boat, he was threatened and his fish depot was attacked.
Ashraf Chowdhury, the acting chairman of the Gaglajur Union Parishad, noted that local political leaders intervened to facilitate the return of the materials after initial police reports failed to halt the looting. Additional Superintendent of Police Hafizul Islam stated that police are actively working with the residents to ensure the remaining blocks are returned. Authorities anticipate that the recovery operation will be completed by Friday.
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