Angry villagers in Durgapur, Rajshahi, burned four excavators used by outsiders to dig ponds on cropland, highlighting water scarcity, weak regulation and mounting conflict over land as drought fears rise.
Farmers in northern Bangladesh’s Durgapur Upazila set fire to four excavators in a dramatic protest against illegal pond construction on fertile farmland, underscoring growing tensions over water resources in the region.
The pre-dawn blaze on Monday, 29 December, caused an estimated 5 million taka (around USD 45,000) in damages and temporarily halted work that threatened nearly 100 bighas (33 hectares) of crops.
Locals said the excavation was led by outsiders from neighboring Taherpur, including businessman Belal Hossain, locally known as Battery Belal, who began digging without the landowners’ consent. Yadul Islam, a local farmer, said, “They started digging forcibly. When we informed the authorities, mobile courts seized the excavators and imposed fines. But they returned at night. We do not want a pond here. We want our farmland protected.”
The villagers’ response was swift and organized. Loudspeakers from two to three local mosques called on the community to resist the illegal excavation. Residents gathered at the site and set fire to four of the five excavators, forcing the workers to flee. One machine was completely destroyed, while three others were partially damaged.
For Durgapur’s farmers, the incident was about more than property. It was a fight to protect livelihoods in a region increasingly strained by climate change. Experts say the protest reflects the intersection of environmental pressures, weak regulation and community vulnerability, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management and stronger governance in Bangladesh.
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Layla Noor Tanju said the administration is actively preventing pond excavation on arable land. “Regular raids are conducted and violators are penalized through mobile courts. Enforcement will continue despite challenges from external actors and ongoing election duties,” she added.
The incident is part of a wider problem across northern Bangladesh. Villages such as Jhinaier Mor, Koyampur, Sukhandighi and Mariya have also reported illegal pond construction. Experts note that erratic rainfall, over-extraction of groundwater and unregulated pond digging in the northwestern Barind tract are worsening water scarcity and fueling disputes between communities and outsiders.
The risks are compounded by unsafe water infrastructure. Earlier this month, a two-year-old boy, Sajid, fell into an abandoned deep tube-well shaft in Tanore Upazila and later died after being rescued. Following the tragedy, authorities identified 39 other unsafe boreholes across Rajshahi District. Division Additional Commissioner Md. Rezaul Alam Sarkar confirmed that all abandoned boreholes are being secured and instructed authorities to ensure safety in future operations.
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, said, “The combination of climate vulnerability, resource scarcity and local power dynamics is creating flashpoints across rural Bangladesh. Without integrated water management and climate-adaptive policies, similar conflicts are likely to increase.”
