Completion Report of Campaign for Local Farmers and Fisher Folks' Access to Kacha Canal in Dacope Upazila, Khulna

Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL)

CLAIMING RIGHTS ON WATER FOR FOOD SECURITY AND ECOLOGY Completion Report Campaign for Local Farmers and Fisher Folks' Access to Kacha Canal in Dacope Upazila, Khulna

Report Preparation

Hasan Mehedi Shariful Islam Salim Nashim Rahman KironGuidance

Chief Executive, Humanitywatch Programme Coordinator, Humanitywatch Campaign Officer, Humanitywatch Focal Point, Coastal Campaign Group Campaign Officer, CSRL, Oxfam GB

Gouranga Nandy Abdullah Al MamunPublication

Chaitra 1418 | April 2012Supported by

Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) Uttaran (lead of Coastal Campaign Group)Published by

Humanitywatch Nuri Manjil, 39 Farukia Mosque Cross Road Boyra, Khulna 9000, Bangladesh Phone: +88 017 1670 2006, +88 017 1213 0040 E-mail: hwforg@gmail.com, info@humanitybd.orgPage | 2

CLAIMING RIGHTS ON WATER FOR FOOD SECURITY AND ECOLOGY Completion Report Campaign for Local Farmers and Fisher Folks' Access to Kacha Canal in Dacope Upazila, Khulna

CONTENTSAbbreviation and Acronyms ............................................................................................ 4 Glossary ............................................................................................................................. 4 Executive Summery .......................................................................................................... 5 Background of the Campaign .......................................................................................... 6The Area Kacha Canal The Campaign ............................................................................ 6 ............................................................................ 7 ............................................................................ 8

Progress Report ................................................................................................................. 9Information Collection Factsheet Publication Consultation Meeting Gathering and Marketplace Meeting Lobby Meeting Popular Mobilisation Farmer's Hearing ............................................................................ 9 ............................................................................ 9 ............................................................................ 10 ............................................................................ 10 ............................................................................ 11 ............................................................................ 12 ............................................................................ 14

Media Campaign ............................................................................................................... 15Press Conference Journalists' Visit ............................................................................ 15 ............................................................................ 15

Campaign Outcomes ......................................................................................................... 17Significant Achievements Challenges Encountered ............................................................................ 17 ............................................................................ 17

Annexure ............................................................................................................................ 18Factsheet Media Coverage Resolution of Union Parishad Recommendation of Upazila Parishad ............................................................................ 19 ............................................................................ 23 ............................................................................ 28 ............................................................................ 29

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Abbreviation & AcronymsBELA CSRL DAE DC DOF LGI MP NWP SSS UNO UP UPz VGD VGF Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Commissioner (chief of District Administration) Department of Fisheries Local Government Institution Member of Parliament National Water Policy Social Safety Net Services Upazila Nirbahi Officer (chief of Upazila Adminstration) Union Parishad Upazila Parishad Vulnerable Group Development Vulnerable Group Feeding

GlossaryAcre Aman Aus Boro Jolmohal Khal Union Parishad Local unit of land; 1 acre equals to 0.40 hectare or 3.03 Bigha. 100 decimals make an Acre. Rice variety transplanted in monsoon (June/July) and harvested in November/December in Bangladesh. Aman is also treated as a season. Rice variety transplanted in early monsoon (March/April) and harvested in September/October Rice variety transplanted in dry season (December/January) and harvested in March/April. Boro is also treated as a season. State owned common water bodies owned by any of the local government or administration: UP, UNO, Zila Parishad (district council) or DC Canal; natural or artificial waterway for passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation Union Council; the lowest tire of local government institutions consist of 13-20 villages within 9 Wards and governed by an elected Chairman and 12 UP Member under the Upazila Parishad.

Upazila Parishad Sub-district Council; mid level tire of the local government institutions consist of 5-14 Union Parishads and governed by an elected Chairman and 2 Vice-Chairman under the District. However, Bangladesh has 64 Districts under 7 Divisions namely Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet.Page | 4

EXECUTIVE SUMMERYKacha Canal is a small canal in Bajua Union of Dacope Upazila under Khulna District. The canal is 2.5 Kms long with an area of 34 acre in which only 5.3 acre state owned and rest of it owned by the individuals. The government leased out the canal for only 4,500 taka revenue per year whereas the government can earn at least 500 thousand taka from increased crop production if the canal keeps open. Besides, the 450 tonne surplus food production could be contributed to reduce food deficit of Khulna district. To ensure food security and sustainable rural livelihoods through access of farmers and fishermen communities' access to the common water bodies, Humanitywatch has implemented a campaign from November 2011 to March 2012 under assistance from CSRL and Uttaran. After information collection Consultation Meeting, Marketplace gathering, Lobby Meeting, Popular Mobilisation and Media Campaign have been organised with active participation of 1200 villagers, 67 civil society representatives, 17 local government representatives, 19 political leaders and 5 persons from local administration. The programs are highly covered by the local and national print and electronic media. In response of the campaign, The Bajua UP added with the campaign and has taken formal decision to Ban the lease of Kacha canal in January 2012. Dacope UPz recommended for banning the lease and the UNO of Dacope formed a probe committee to know actual position of the canal. The UP and UPz also promised to pay the revenue from their institutional income if the government will not ban the lease. We hope the government will stop leasing Kacha canal within March of 2013 (leasing time is April to March each year).

...the leasee got right for only 5 acre but he is enjoying whole 34 acre of the canal...Ranjit Mondal Share cropper Kacha village, Bajua Dacope, Khulna

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BACKGROUND of the campaignThe AreaDacope is one of the Upazila under Khulna district which is adjacent to the Sundarbans and exposed to the Bay of Bengal. The total area of the Upazila is 991 Km2 in which 118 Km2 covered by the forest. The total population of Dacope is around 150 thousand in which 64.21 percent involve with agriculture. Besides 2.38% fisher, 4.84% daily wage labour and 3.74% forest dependant people among others. Dacope is one of the most saline affected areas of Bangladesh with 29 percent of land affected by extreme salinity, 18 percent moderate and 37 percent fair salinity. Almost 4,000 acre land of this Upazila left uncultivable due to extreme salinity. Bajua is one of the 10 Unions of Dacope Upazila surrounded by the Passur, Dhaki and Chunkuri River. Almost 75 percent out of 25,000 people of Bajua Union is small and marginal farmer. Due to extreme salinity, common water bodies like canal and ponds are the only source of freshwater irrigation in the Union. The Union has 16 canals namely Nalbunia Khal, Dutiara Khal, Kakrabunia Khal, Boroitala Khal, Paijuri Khal, Bashbaria Khal, Berer Khal, Majher Khal, Malenga Khal, Dakatia Khal, Doania Khal, Taltala Khal, Moukata Khal and Kacha Khal. People are fully depended on these canals for growing winter vegetables, Boro paddy and Water Melon in the dry season.

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Considering importance of these canals in food grain production and other trees including local ecology, Bajua Union Parishad (UP) constructed temporary dykes on the canal to protect them from salinity intrusion. People grow water melon in 11,000 acre of land during dry season using freshwater from these canals. Recently water melon of Bajua become popular all over Bangladesh and farmers are getting profit.

Kacha CanalKacha is one of the 16 canals of Bajua Union adjacent to Kacha village with an area of 34 acre in which only 5.3 acre owned by the state and other 29 acre is owned by the individuals of Kacha village who are absolutely poor and marginal farmer. More than 1,100 acre land on both banks of Kacha canal is depended on this canal for freshwater irrigation in the dry season. The farmers grow 1,312 tonne Aman rice, 382 tonne Aus, 21 tonne vegetables and 7,200 tonne of water melon. According to Bangladesh Water Bodies Protection Act 2010 and Environment Act 1995, nobody can change the characteristics of water bodies whether it is owned by government or not. The local farmer and fisher folks' have full rights on the water and fish resources of the canal, although it was owned by individuals. But when the Government leased the canal to influential persons in the name of 'Fishermen Cooperative', common people lost their rights to access in the canal. According to Jolmohal Management Policy 2009, only the fishermen's cooperative can get leasing rights on the common water bodies. In the name of Kacha Fishermen Cooperative, some influential people took lease of Kacha canal in 2010 against only 4,500 taka revenue while the leasee earns 250,000 taka from only the fisher folks. If the government keep the canal open for all, more than 500,000 taka revenue will be collected from only crop selling market. Besides, Social Safety net Services (SSS) like VGD, VGF, elder citizen allowance, and maternal allowances will be decreased. Including all problems and possibilities, Government could profit at least 1,000,000 taka by opening the Kacha canal. Department of Fisheries (DOF) through consultation with the UNO is the entitled authority to lease the canals for fishing. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has no information about the leasing though the canal is traditionally used for water for irrigation. Local peopled demanded obligatory consultation with DAE to lease out Khas water bodies. The government commits support small scale irrigation for crops and not to make barrier of water flow and movement of fishes in National Water Policy 1999 [article 4.7(a) and 4.9(e)]. The government is also responsible for Comprehensive Water Management to increase food production [article 4.4.2(b)]. According to Jolmohal Management Policy 2009, irrigationPage | 7

from common water bodies cannot be jeopardised [article 22]. But the leasee doesn't permit the farmers to irrigate for crops in dry seasons. Besides, the leasee takes one-fourth of the collected fishes from Kacha canals as fee of fishing. A number of fisher families already shifted to the urban areas after losing their traditional livelihoods.

The CampaignTo open the Kacha canal for free and fair access of farmers and fisher folks by banning lease, Humanitywatch has taken a campaign programme under assistance of Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and Uttaran, as the lead of Coastal Campaign Group. Title of the Campaign: Ensure farmers and Fisher folks access to Kacha canal of Dacope Upazila under Khulna district Specific Objectives: (a) To ensure access of small and marginal farmers and fisher folks to the Kacha canal of Dacope Upazila under Khulna district; (b) To use common water bodies as freshwater reservoir for irrigation by stopping saline water intrusion in the canals and cultivable lands; (c) To create favourable situation for farmers to use freshwater from the canals for irrigation. November 2011 to March 2012 (a) Information collection and Policy analysis (b) Social awareness building for creating mass opinion (b) Popular mobilisation for creating pressure (c) Lobbying for sensitising policymakers (d) Media campaign for social awareness and sensitisation Bajua Union, Dacope Upazila, Khulna city

Period of Campaign: Advocacy Strategy:

Area of Operation:

SUMMARY OF PROGRESSSL # 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Activities Factsheet Publication Consultation Meeting Lobby Meeting Popular Mobilisation Media Mobilisation Farmers' Hearing Target 1 factsheet 04 meeting 02 meetings 03 programs 02 programs 01 hearing Nov Dec 03 01 Timeline Total Jan Feb Mar 01 01 01 01 01 02 02 02 01 01 04 03 02 03 02 01 Comments Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed

Farmer and Fisher Gathering 03 gatherings

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Progress ReportInformation CollectionInformation collection and rapport building activities has no alternative to build up public opinion and mass mobilisation. To collect basic information on Kacha canal Humanitywatch formed a small committee with active involvement of core staffs, Bajua Union Parishad, local civil society representatives, politicians and marginal farmers. The committee collected relevant information on Canal, agriculture, livelihoods and legal documents including map and contacts to develop a factsheet with argument points. The committee members are: a) Debprosad Gain b) Monoj Kumar Roy c) Bijlee Mondal d) Gour Chandra Mondale) Shariful Islam Salim Chairman, Bajua Union Parishad President, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Bajua Union Committee Female Member, Ward # 7-8-9, Bajua Union Parishad Member, Ward # 8, Bajua Union Parishad Programme Coordinator, Humanitywatch

The committee organised 5 FGD using PRA tools organised to develop a Social Resource Map and Matrix Ranking on the problems the villagers are facing due to lease of Kacha canal.

Factsheet PublicationAn authentic Factsheet with proper information and strong argument is very important to sensitise the civil society, journalists and policymaking leaders. From this perspective Humanitywatch has published a factsheet with detail information and analysis from food security and macro-economic aspect. The factsheet contains Background, Description on Kacha Canal, Economic role of the Canal, Problems of Access to the Canal, Initiative of UP and Demands of Local People. Total 1,000 copies of factsheet published and distributed among the villagers, Union Parishad, Upazila Parishad, civil society, journalists, likeminded organisations and policymakers.Page | 9

The factsheet was highly appreciated from all corners of stakeholders and helped to sensitise respective decision-making levels. Some newspapers took information from the factsheet and published comprehensive reports on the Kacha canal.

Consultation MeetingThe committee organised 4 consultation meetings with the local farmers, fishermen, politician, civil society leaders and Union Parishad, the lowest tyre of local government institutions. Two consultation meetings were organised on 21 December 2011 among the inhabitants of Kacha village where the people share their open opinion on leasing Kacha canal. 58 persons participated in the Consultation meetings in which 37 participants were male and 21 female. Local politicians from both of ruling and opposition party participated with the civil society leaders and farmers, and strictly said that the lease of the Village level Consultation Meeting organised to create mass canal should be banned and opened for opinion on lease of Kacha canal | Photo: Nashim Rahman Kiron common people for increasing food grain production and livelihood of rural poor people. Getting people's views, Humanitywatch organised 2 Consultation Meeting with Bajua Union Parishad to sensitise Local Government Institutions (LGI) elected representatives. First meeting with Union Parishad held on 27 December 2011 and 2nd meeting on 17 January 2012. All elected UP members, Female members, chairman of the Union Parishad, chairmen from other 2 Union Parishad namely Banishanta and Dacope UP and local former members participated in the meeting. Bajua Union Parishad formally endorsed the Campaign in the meeting. The UP formally took decision of banning lease of Kacha canal by formal resolution of the institution where all of the UP members, Consultation Meeting with Union Parishad organised to sensitise chairman, UP secretary and guest them on banning the lease | Photo: Nashim Rahman Kiron chairmen signed willingly. The UP also decided to pay the revenue of Government if the lease will not be banned within March 2013 (the time when lease circular will be published).

Gathering and Marketplace MeetingTo create mass awareness and social mobilisation on common water bodies, one mass gathering and two marketplace gatherings were organised with active participation of Bajua Union Parishad. The meetings were chaired by Bajua UP Chairman Debprosad Gain and UP Members, Civil Society leaders and local farmers addressed the gatherings.

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The first Mass Gathering was organised on 3 February 2012 at Kacha Primary School Ground and other 2 Marketplace Meetings were organised on 6 and 11 March 2012 at Bajua and Poddarganj Bazaar respectively. The speakers focused on the sufferings of small and marginal farmers and fishermen families due to lease of Kacha canal. They said, the marginal farmers are unable to pay mammoth water price and pump cost from the leasee to get irrigation water. As a result they get a minimum production of their crops. If the government open the canal for all farmers and fishermen, more 4,000 tonne of water melon can be produced. The government is taking only 4,500 to 5,000 taka a year from this leasing process. On the other hand, the country is losing at least 1,500,000 taka per year for the same cause. This irrigation canals are given lease due to loophole in Jolmohal Policy and relationship between vested interest groups and corrupted officials in Bajua UP Chairman Debprosad Sarkar is addressing the gahtering Upazila and District level. Due to this at Kacha Primary School Ground | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim unwise policy and vested interest groups, Khulna becomes one of the food deficit districts of Bangladesh. The speakers demanded ban the lease of Kacha canal immediately. Otherwise, the people will join in mass movement, they said. The meetings were presided by Bajua UP Chairman Debprosad Gain. Dacope UP Chairman Sanjay Kumar Moral, Freedom fighter Monoj Kumar Roy, UP member Asutosh Adhikari, Bijlee Mondal, Gourpada Mondal, Tandra Roy, Thakurpada Biswas, Bhabotosh Mondal, Francis Gain, Bulu Mondal, Jibananda Mondal, Ashoke Sarkar, Dinabandhu Mondal, former member Ranjit Mondal, Binoy Krishna Roy, Sachindranath Mondal, Humanitywatch Chief Executive Hasan Mehedi, Shariful Islam Salim and Nasim Rahman kiron addressed the rally among others.

Lobby MeetingLobby meeting is a vital tool for sensitising policymaking leaders in campaign and advocacy programmes. Though the UP decided to ban the lease or pay revenue of the government to open Kacha canal for common people, e.g. farmers and fisher folks, Upazila and district level lobby meetings were organised to sensitize Upazila Chairman, UNO and DC as administration including DOF is the key point in canal leasing process. 2 lobby meetings were organised with Upazila level and local Member of Parliament (MP). The first Lobby Meeting was organised on 20 March with active participation of Dacope Upazila Parishad chairman Sheikh Abul Hossain, Vice chairman Bhagabati Goldar, UNO, journalistsHumanitywatch team is submitting memorandum to Upazila Chairman after the Lobby Meeting | Photo: Shariful Islam SalimPage | 11

from national and local newspapers and television channel and civil society leaders. Bajua Union Muktijoddha Sangsad president Monoj Roy, Mallick Sudhangsu of Baishakhi television Koushik Dey Bapi of daily Kaler Kantho, Sohrab Hossain of daily Janmabhumi, Hedait Hossain of daily Jugantor and Shariful Islam Salim of Humanitywatch spoke among others. In the lobby meeting, Upazila chairman Sheikh Abul Hossain said that the Kacha canal will must be open for free access of farmers and fishermen if we want to become a food sovereign country. He expressed his commitment to pay the annual revenue charge for the canal if the government will not ban the lease within March 2013 which is the dateline for next circular of lease. The 2nd lobby meeting was organised on 27 March 2012 with local Member of Parliament (MP) Mr. Nani Gopal Submission of Memorandum to the UNO after Lobby meeting with Mondal. The speakers urged for his Upazila Parishad | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim recommendation to open the common water bodies of Bajua Union, especially the Kacha canal. Dacope Upazila chairman Sheikh Abul Hossain, Bajua UP chairman Debprosad Gain, UP members, journalists and civil society representatives were present there. The MP promised to take necessary action to stop leasing the canal in next year as it was already given for 3 years from 2009.

Popular MobilisationTo create pressure on the policymakers and decision-making leaders, popular mobilisation has taken as a tool to gather people's voice in regional centre and to ensure that the voices are heard. Within the timeline, 3 popular mobilisation programs have been organised in Dacope and Khulna city. The first Human Chain was organised at Dacope Upazila headquarter on 29 December 2011 on the demand of banning lease of Kacha canal and all common water bodies of Dacope Upazila. Muktijoddha Sangsad president Monoj Roy, Bajua UP member Jibananda Mondal, Ashoke Sarkar, Thakurdas Biswas, Dinbandhu Mondal, BELA divisional coordinator Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul and Humanitywatch representative Shariful Islam Salim addressed the Human Chain among others. The speakers in the Human Chain said that at least 1,500 farmers are depending on the Kacha canal for irrigation in dry seasons. But the leasee does not permit them to collect water from leased canal. At least 30 percent Participants of the Human Chain at Dacope with Demand of of cultivable lands become fallow due banning the lease of Kacha canal | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim to shortage of irrigation water. They blamed wrong Jolmohal Policy, unwise decision of district administration and local vested interest groups for controversial leasing of the canal. The speaker also said that, localPage | 12

administration is harming the agriculture while the government is trying to increase national food grain production. They demanded immediate banning the lease of Kacha Canal, broadly all common water bodies of Dacope Upazila. On the eve of International Rivers' Day, Humanitywatch organised another Human Chain at Picture Palace Moor of Khulna city on 14 March 2012 with the same demand. Civil and political leaders participated in the Human Chain. The speakers demanded immediate ban on the Participants of the Human Chain in Khulna with Demand of leasing of common water bodies and banning the lease of Kacha canal | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim inclusion of DAE in leasing process. They blamed local socio-political influential persons for subversive activities which is harmful for agriculture of the coastal zone. To convey the sufferings and demanding messages from grassroots people to the district administration, a Procession and Memorandum Submission was organised in Khulna city on 25 March 2012. In a short gathering after the procession the speakers said that, Khulna is one of the food deficit districts where we are in shortage of 35,000 tonne of food grain production. So, increasing crop production by opening the common water bodies has no alternative. But the canals are given lease by district and Upazila administration and the farmers are crying for irrigation water. The speakers demanded immediate ban of Short gathering in front of DC Office Building after completion of Procession | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim the lease of Kacha canal and keep it open for free access of farmers and fisher folks. The civil and political leaders and the affected farmers community submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Khulna after the procession and gathering. Civic leader Advocate Feroz Ahmed, NAP president Fazlur Rahman, Sammobadi Dal secretary FM Iqbal, CPB leader Mahendranath Sen, Bajua UP chairman Debprosad Gain, Freedom fighter Monoj Kumar Roy and Abdul Halim, MSSUS executive director Shamima Sultana Shilu, Paribartan executive director Nazmul Azam David, Conscience executive director Salim Bulbul, SUJON district Civic and political leaders submitted a memorandum to the District Commissioner after the Procession | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim secretary Advocate Kudrat-E-Khuda,Page | 13

BLAST district coordinator Advocate Ashoke Roy, Rupayan executive director Khaled Hossain and Humanitywatch representative Shariful Islam Salim and Nashim Rahman Kiron addressed the gathering among others.

Farmers' HearingPublic hearing is an important tool to ensure grassroots voices are heard by the policymakers. To sensitise the decision making leaders by using authentic testimonies from the hotspots, a Farmers' Hearing was organised on Kacha Canal on 26 January 2012 with presence of Local MP Narayan Chandra Chanda, Upazila chairman Sheikh Abul Hossain, Upazila agriculture officer Pankaj Kanti Majumdar, local UP chairman Mostafa Sarwar and prominent journalist Gouranga Nandy. In testimony part, 5 A farmer is expressing his sufferings in presence of policymaker, local farmers described their sufferings agri department and local leaders | Photo: Hasan Mehedi due to barrier in access to Kacha canal. The policymaker and other leaders assured the farmers about banning the lease of Kacha canal for the next year.

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Media CampaignPrint and electronic media, namely newspapers, television and online media can play a vital role for ensuring common people's rights on common properties. To ensure proactive participation of print and electronic media, Humanitywatch has taken some strategy of involving journalists with the campaign. A brief on the activities done is given bellow:

Press ConferenceA Press Conference with demand of opening Kacha canal for free access of local farmers and fisher folks organised in Khulna Press Club on 21 January 2012. Bajua UP chairman Debprosad Gain presented a written speech before the journalists of the conference. In his speech, Debprosad Bajua UP Chairman Debprosad Gain is presenting written speech urged to the government to ban lease in the Press Conference | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim of Kacha canal, and all of common water bodies. Muktijoddha sangsad president of Bajua Monoj Kumar Roy, UP member Jibananda Mondal, Ashoke Sarkar, Thakurdas Biswas, Dinbandhu Mondal, Dhrupad executive director Basudeb Biswas Babla, BELA divisional coordinator Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, Humanitywatch representative Hasan Mehedi, Shariful Islam Salim and Nasim Rahman Kiron was present there among others. The speaker declared that if the demands not met by the government the Union Parishad will organise a number of agitation program including Public Gathering, Blockade and mass mobilisation to get the demands.

Journalist Visit to the Campaign AreaRealistic information from the field helps a lot to prepare effective reports. A journalist visit to the Kacha canal area organised keeping this in mind. Nine journalists from national and local newspapers and one representative of television channel participated in the visit. Ranojit Kumar Rano from daily Dakkhinanchal, Mallick Sudhangsu from from Baishakhi Television,Page | 15

Sohrab Hossain from daily Janmabhumi, HM Alauddin from daily Purbanchal, Koushik Dey Bapi from daily Kaler Kantho, Hedait Hossain from daily Jugantor, SM Kamal from daily Spandan and Humanitywatch representative Shariful Islam Salim visited the area among others. The journalists met more than 100 villagers who are suffered due to barrier of taking water from Kacha canal. They can understand the Journalist Koushik Dey Bapi, Hedait Hossain and Sohrab Hossain importance of opening Kacha canal is talking with women of Kacha village | Photo: Shariful Islam Salim and sensitised to write reports on the issue. Five reports were published on national and local newspapers after the visit.

Dhaka, Sunday 22 January 2012 Khulna, Jan 21 | Staff ReporterBajua Union Parishad chairman Debaprosad Gain on Sunday in a press conference held at Khulna Press Club demanding cancellation of lease and stop encroachment of all government wetlands under Dacope upazila of Khulna district. The press conference organised jointly by Bajua Union Parishad, Humanitywatch, Uttaran and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL). Khas canals under Bajua Union are Kacha Khal, Berer Khal, Kakrabunia Khal, Dutiara Khal, Baraitala Khal, Nalbunia Khal, Dakatia Khal, Chunkuri Khal, Doyania Khal, Taltala Khal and two Rivers Basua and Chara. He alleged that some local influential musclemen in association with section government officials leased out these water bodies violating the rules. He demanded immediate cancellation of these lease to save poor and marginal farmers and fishermen. He further said lack of sufficient ponds or water bodies are not only posing a threat to the environment, but also causing an ecological imbalance, health and sanitation problem, water logging and inundation during the Monsoon, hampering irrigation, drainage and sewerage systems and making trouble in tackling any fire incident. Gain said wetlands are a major source of fresh surface water. Proper water supplies depend on healthy wetlands and healthy forests can help to support and protect wetlands. Forests in wetlands are valuable natural resources, he added. Deboprasad Gain called to eviction of river and canal grabbers on the basis of land and hydrological survey and applies scientific methods for increasing navigability by dredging for natural flow. Gain said the water bodies must be protected to save the countrys biodiversity. He also said the water bodies have a correlation with forests and these are naturally created. As these wetlands are being gradually destroyed, the people of Dacope have been becoming the worse victims of nature. President of Bajua union unit Freedom Fighters Sangsad Manoj Kumar Roy, chief executive of Humanitywatch Hasan Mehedi, Khulna divisional coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, Basudev Biswas Babla of Dhrupad, Khulna, Tagore Biswas, Ashok Sarker, among others, were present in the press conference. Weblink: http://www.theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/metropolitan/others/91075-cancellease-save-wetlands-of-dacope.html

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Campaign OutcomeSignificant Outcomes1) Bajua Union Parishad formally endorsed the campaign and organised all of the events on behalf of Humanitywatch, Uttaran and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL); 2) The Union Parishad formally take a decision through official resolution to ban the lease of Kacha Canal, inter alia all of the open Water Bodies within the Union's jurisdiction area; 3) The Union Parishad decided to pay all revenues of Kacha canal to open the it, if the Government will not ban the lease within March 2013; 4) The Upazila Parishad chairman expressed his full support for opening the common water bodies, especially the Kacha canal and said that if the government will not open it willingly, The Upazila Parishad is interested to pay the revenue on behalf of marginal farmers and fisher folks for their safe livelihoods; 5) Newspapers including national, local and online media published more than 83 reports of the campaign with due importance. Some of them are attached in Annexure 2. 6) Civil society representatives, politicians from all major political parties are positive and playing inspiring role to achieve the ultimate goal of campaign; 7) The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Dacope Upazila formed a Probing Committee to investigate complain against the leasee.

Challenges Encountered1) The campaign was actually designed to start in April-May 2011 but due to some unavoidable causes the campaign belated to November 2011. However, the campaign team of Humanitywatch completed all of the activities with active support from local government, civil society, lead of campaign group and CSRL secretariat. 2) November-December is the harvesting season of Aman rice and January-February is the sowing season of water melon. Due to agricultural season, it was tough for farmers to manage time for the campaign. However most of the activities redesigned according to farmers and a local person's time and successfully done.

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AnnexureFactsheet Media Coverage Resolution of Union Parishad Recommendation of Upazila Parishad

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Annex 01

Factsheet

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Annexure 2

Media CoverageDhaka Wednesday 28 March 2012 14 Chaitra 1418 BS

Lease of canal takes toll on crop farmingLocals demand lease cancellationOur Correspondent: Farmers of Dacope upazila have long been suffering as they cannot use the water of acanal, leased out by the government for fish farming. According to sources, the local elite have been occupying the canal for serving their own interest creating hazards for the farmers of the area. Locals say as Khulna is one of the food-deficit districts of the country the farmers access to proper irrigation facility will help them to a great extent and play a vital role in food-grain production. But the local administration was holding them back from using water from the canal for irrigation, the speakers said. Sources said the government was now earning Tk 4,500 by leasing out the canal whereas the farmers could produce a total of 450 tonnes of crops per year, if they could use its water for irrigation. Locals alleged a section of people were using the canal in the name of fish farming. They submitted a memorandum in this connection to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Khulna to cancel the lease immediately. A protest programme was also organised in this connection by three non-governmental organisations, namely Humanity Watch, Uttaran and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) on Sunday. Civic leader Advocate Feroz Ahmed, NAP president Fazlur Rahman, Sammobadi Dal secretary FM Iqbal and Bajua UP chairman Debprosad Gain spoke, among others, at the programme. Weblink: http://www.daily-sun.com/details_yes_28-03-2012_Lease-of-canal-takes-toll-on-cropfarming_98_1_8_1_11.html

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A half page coverage by national daily Jugantor on 23 March 2012

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Annexure 3

Resolution of Bajua Union Parishad

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Annexure 3

RECOMMENDATION OF DACOPE UPAZILA CHAIRMAN

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