Tauhid Hossain Sarkar:
The agricultural area of ​​Sadar Dakshin Upazila of Comilla city was once lush green, where the spread of cropland was remarkable. However, as the days pass, that tradition of agricultural land is fading away due to the encroachment of concrete. Especially Dhaneshwar field in ward number 26 of KUSIK is now rapidly disappearing due to the encroachment of multi-storey buildings.
Where rice, vegetables and other crops were once cultivated, one after another residential and commercial establishments are now being built. Local farmers complain that they are losing land due to unplanned urbanization, forcing them to turn away from farming.
Local farmer Abdul Hannan (65) said, I have been cultivating this land since childhood. Dhaneshwar field was our main source of income. Now I see that concrete walls are being built where golden rice ears once swayed. We are worried about whether there will be any agricultural land for our children in the future.
Another farmer Md. Jamal Uddin said, “Earlier there were abundant crops here, but now there is only a jungle of bricks and rods. The way buildings are being built on agricultural land, the entire area will turn into a residential area in a few years.”
New buildings are being built to expand the city, but the issue of occupying agricultural land and developing residential areas without proper planning has experts worried.
Dr. Mahmudul Hasan, a teacher in the Department of Urban Planning at Comilla University, said, “Planned urbanization is definitely necessary, but if agricultural land is destroyed and the city is expanded in this way, it will create a terrible crisis in the long run. If agricultural land decreases in areas like Comilla, it will have a negative impact on food security.
Building construction without paying attention to the rules?
According to government rules, certain approvals are required for the conversion of agricultural land. However, in reality, buildings are being constructed freely in many places without changing the land class.
Saiful Islam, a local citizen, said, “Many times, after buying agricultural land, the owners start constructing multi-storey buildings without following the rules. The Comilla Development Authority should also strictly look into these issues.”
What is the role of the administration?
In this regard, an official of the Sadar Dakshin Upazila Land Office said, *”We are trying to take appropriate steps to protect agricultural land. However, due to population growth, the trend of land use change is increasing. Strict legal steps need to be taken to control this. What can be the solution?
Experts say that the Agricultural Land Conservation Act must be strictly implemented and separate residential zones need to be designated for planned urbanization. The local administration must be stricter against illegal land conversion. Multi-storey agricultural systems or rooftop agriculture can be encouraged as an alternative measure.
Urbanization by destroying agricultural land is having a negative impact on the environment of Comilla on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is becoming a threat to future food security. If effective measures are not taken now, food production in agricultural-based cities like Comilla will decrease drastically in the next few decades. Therefore, it is important for the concerned authorities to take quick steps to protect agricultural land and plan urbanization.
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