Jhalokathi, July 22 (V7N) — Residents of Ghigra village in Rajapur upazila, Jhalokathi, staged a human chain on Monday morning, protesting alleged harassment through false lawsuits and the illegal obstruction of their only accessible water channel. The protest was held around 10 a.m. in the Keota Bazar area of Shuktagarh Union.
 
Organized by local residents, the human chain drew dozens of affected individuals who claimed that Md. Abdul Hannan Talukder, son of the late Akram Hossain Talukder, had constructed barriers at multiple points along a government-owned canal, effectively stopping the natural water flow. This canal reportedly serves over 200 families in the area for agriculture, daily household needs, and drinking water for livestock.
 
Protesters including Farzana Akter, Happy Begum, Mostafa Talukder, Shafi Talukder, Imam Hossain Talukder, Advocate Sobahan Talukder, Abul Hossain Talukder, and others, alleged that Hannan Talukder responded to community opposition by filing fabricated legal cases against nearly 50 villagers, creating a climate of fear and suppressing dissent.
 
“This canal is our lifeline,” said one protester. “By cutting off water access, he is suffocating the entire community. And now he is weaponizing the legal system against us.”
 
Following the human chain, villagers held a protest march demanding the removal of all barriers from the canal to restore natural water flow. They also called for the withdrawal of what they termed “false and retaliatory lawsuits” and urged immediate intervention from local administration.
 
Despite repeated complaints, locals claim no substantial action has been taken so far. The demonstrators warned that their suffering would intensify unless authorities intervened to resolve the water access crisis and provide legal protection for those facing harassment.
 
As of this report, no formal statement has been issued by local administrative or law enforcement officials.
 
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