Locals have allegedly been encroaching on the Rabnabad river in Patuakhali's Galachipa upazila to cultivate watermelon.

During a recent visit to the area near the Galachipa launch terminal, this correspondent observed that a vast stretch of the riverbank had been elevated using soil extracted from the riverbed and riverbank areas to grab the river's land.

Watermelon cultivation has already begun on parts of the occupied land.

Some residents alleged that the illegal grabbing is being carried out without any obstruction from the upazila administration. Sources claimed that some officials of the upazila land office are facilitating the occupation in exchange for bribes.

Saeed Talukdar, a local farmer cultivating watermelon on a portion of the grabbed land, said his wife, Tasmin Akhter Jhumur -- an elected member of Golkhali Union Parishad -- had received a temporary lease of three acres from the upazila administration.

He admitted to elevating the riverbank to protect the crops from tidal water but could not provide any document or details regarding the lease.

Another farmer said they had to pay the land office to cultivate watermelon on the riverbank area but declined to mention the amount paid as bribe.

In 2009, after a report titled "Markets being built on grabbed river land in Galachipa" was published in a national daily, the then shipping minister directed the ministry secretary to take action against illegal occupation of the Rabnabad river's land. A subsequent meeting of the National Task Force for River Protection in January 2010 also decided to evict illegal structures from the area.

Although some areas were reclaimed at the time, illegal occupation resumed in recent years, this time under the guise of temporary leases.

Harun-or-Rashid, surveyor of Galachipa upazila land office, claimed they were unaware of the soil extraction or elevation of the riverbank.

He said the lease permissions for plots in Badarpur mouza, granted to Abbas Hawladar, Dipankar, Sohel Shah Kamal Gazi, and Bahadur Shah, have already been revoked as per a notice issued on February 3.

However, while some leases have been cancelled on paper, the land has yet to be reclaimed.

Md Rafiqul Alam, vice-president of the central committee of Bangladesh Nodi Bachao Andolon, said, "According to the foreshore law, the river boundary in port areas includes five feet outside and 30 feet inside the high tide line. No one is allowed within 50 feet of the last high-tide mark. The government cannot lease such land."

Md Nasim Reza, assistant commissioner (land) in Galachipa, said they have ordered a halt to the soil extraction after being informed of the matter.

Contacted, Md Mizanur Rahman, Galachipa upazila nirbahi officer, said some temporary leases were granted for seasonal watermelon cultivation on newly emerged shoal lands.

"However, there is no scope to build embankments or elevate riverbank. We are looking into the matter," he added.