By Amit Sarkar from Rajshahi

A human chain was held recently at Nachol Bus Stand demanding the cancellation of an allegedly irregular lease of the government pond in Barenda village. Holding placards and banners with the slogan “No obstruction to people’s development initiatives,” over a hundred men and women participated in the protest.

After the human chain, a protest march ended at the Upazila office, where a memorandum addressed to the Deputy Commissioner was submitted through the UNO.

Speakers, including Barenda Village Development Committee President Md. Ataur Rahman and other local leaders said that the pond has long supported village development projects such as mosques, temples, roads, and aid to the poor. It symbolizes communal harmony among Hindu, Muslim, and Indigenous people.

They alleged that this year, without any prior notice, the lease was secretly awarded to an organization 22 km away, violating clear government guidelines. The speakers demanded the immediate cancellation of the illegal lease and restoration of the lease to the local committee following due process.