Pirtola Canal in Dumki Faces Severe Encroachment and Pollution

The historical Pirtola Canal, located in the Dumki upazila of Patuakhali district, is currently facing severe threats from widespread illegal encroachment and severe environmental pollution, which has completely halted its natural water flow. Originally excavated by the late president Ziauer Rahman on April 27, 1981, the water body spans approximately four kilometers in length. Over the years, however, extensive portions of the canal have fallen victim to unauthorized construction and dumping, severely compromising its ecological health and drainage capacity.

According to ground reports and local observations, the most intensive encroachment has occurred across a stretch of about one and a half kilometers. Within this heavily affected area, more than 20 illegal shops and business establishments have been constructed directly on or along the canal bed. Furthermore, the commercial and residential pressure is clearly visible, including the presence of a substantial four-story building standing within the disputed zone. A particularly vulnerable section spanning roughly 200 meters currently houses between five and seven illegal structures alone.

Despite the overwhelming evidence of land grabbing and the blockage of the water channel, some accused individuals have defended their property claims. Shamim Azad, one of the named locals, stated that he owns the land through purchase and that the boundaries were measured according to official blueprints after acquisition, insisting that he has operated his business there for many years without seizing any canal property. Similarly, another local resident, Md. Forkan Mridha, claimed that a previous survey and official measurement allowed residents to understand their respective boundaries, maintaining that he did not occupy any part of the canal while adding that he respects the law and would relinquish any disputed space if confirmed inside the channel.

The issue has drawn significant attention from various regional institutions, community stakeholders, and local organizations, including Srijoni Bidyaniketan, the Upazila Health Complex, Lutheran Health Care Hospital, the Dumki Upazila Awami League, and the Dumki Pirtola Bazar Committee, alongside media coverage by Samakal. The collective pressure from these entities highlights the growing local urgency to address the deteriorating state of the vital drainage and hydrological resource.

In response to the mounting crisis, the administration has stepped forward to take decisive action regarding the restoration of the waterway. Abdullah Khairul Islam Chowdhury, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Dumki, has officially stated that the administration is preparing a comprehensive list of all illegal encroachers occupying the Pirtola Canal. He further confirmed that once this official list is finalized and submitted to the Deputy Commissioner's office, coordinated steps will be taken to execute an eviction drive to remove all illegal structures before initiating a much-needed re-excavation of the canal.