Dhaka, Oct. 4 -- The administration in Ullapara Upazila of Sirajganj has cancelled the lease of the Gohala River that had been granted by a local mosque committee, bringing relief to over 100 fishing families who had feared losing their livelihoods.

On Saturday morning, Upazila administrator (UNO) Abu Saleh Md Hasnat visited Uduniya village and revoked the lease of a 2.5km section of the river.

He also ordered the return of the money collected from the lessee.

Two days earlier, the mosque committee of Udhunia Bazar area had leased the 2.5km stretch of the Gohala River for Tk 162,000 to Yusuf Ali Molla, a resident of the same village.

The decision left local fishermen worried about their means of living.

The fishermen said the mosque ...