Lifeline turns to sorrow

Once regarded as the lifeline for trade and commerce at the traditional business centres of Khatunganj and Chaktai areas in Chittagong, Chaktai canal has shrunk alarmingly due to encroachment over the years.

Under the clutches of influential encroachers, Chaktai -- backbone of the sewerage system of the port city -- has now emerged as “sorrow of Chittagong”, causing severe waterlogging not only in the rainy season but also during high tide in the Karnaphuli river as it cannot hold enough water and overflows its banks.

The nearly seven-kilometre canal, stretching from Bahaddarhat to Chaktai, which once helped navigating large ships laden with goods, has been clogged and choked by garbage, in addition to rampant encroachment.

“I returned from Dhaka Tuesday night but got stuck for two hours as the area was under knee-deep water,” said Jamal Hossain, a resident of Patharghata. “If the situation continues, soon we will need boats for travelling.”

Jamal, also managing director of two dry fish trading companies in Chaktai area, said last month one of his warehouses got flooded and he had to dump fish worth Tk 20 lakh.

“You do not need rain for waterlogging in Chaktai-Khatunganj area. The high tide brings more water and floods the area even on a sunny day,” said Politan Barua, a Patharghata resident.

Around 80,000 people of Patharghata (ward-34) and Baxirhat (ward-44) were being affected, said its councillors.

From April to November, twice in every month (full moon and new moon) residents of the areas suffer as the canal overflows, said Md Ismail, councillor of ward-34.

Hazi Nurul Huq, councillor of ward-35, said his house also got flooded regularly.

Residents and political leaders blamed encroachment as the main reason, which has narrowed down the canal. “The government must take immediate action to evict the occupants,” said Md Ismail. 

The district administration in 2015 prepared a list of 48 occupants on both sides of the canal as per the Bangladesh Survey (1985-1987).

The Daily Star has recently obtained a copy of the list, which includes individuals, businessmen and even Chittagong City Corporation (CCC). As per the list, the four-storey CCC revenue circle-two building spread over 793 square feet area in Bahaddarhat is on the canal.

CCC Chief Executive Officer Kazi Mohammad Shafiul Alam said if their building was on the canal they would remove it.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw scores of house built occupying the canal in Chaktai-Khatunganj area.

If the district administration would have listed the occupiers as per the 1927 Revisional Survey (RS), the number would be higher, said Jamal Uddin, a former councillor of Patharghata and organising secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association. He demanded immediate eviction of the occupants not only to save the canal but also to reduce the areas' waterlogging crisis.