A daylong joint drive led by Chandpur-3 MP Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik on Thursday freed around 400 acres of agricultural and government khas land from illegal grabbers in Ibrahimpur union of Chandpur Sadar upazila.
The operation in Mukhaddi and Chaltatoli areas targeted an influential gang that had illegally dug nearly 50 fish enclosures on ancestral and government land, selling the topsoil to brick kilns. During the drive, an excavator was seized and embankments were cut to release farmed fish into the Meghna River.
S M N Jamiul Hikma, Chandpur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said the administration previously conducted nearly 40 drives, but culprits repeatedly resumed soil cutting during turbulent river weather. Three cases have been filed against 48 individuals, with drives underway to arrest them.
Highlighting long-term plans, MP Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik said initiative will be taken to establish a planned solar power project on the vast land to safeguard agricultural resources. He also assured that government khas land would be allocated to local landless farmers in accordance with official regulations.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Protoy Hashem, police personnel, and local political leaders were present during the drive.