Local influential people are looting sand and soil from the river with illegal dredger machines in different places of Nagarpur upazila of Tangail. There have been allegations of involvement of various influential quarters, including the local UP chairman.
Although the upazila administration occasionally conducts nominal drives, the illegal sand and soil business resumes after a break at the end of the operation.
Meanwhile, angry locals said that their violence is causing various problems including river erosion, environmental pollution, but there is no one to take action against them.
Throughout the year, sand is extracted from different places of the Dhaleshwari and Bangshi rivers under Pakutia and Mokna unions of the upazila and stacked on the banks and later sold with illegal six-wheeler tractors. As a result, the sand traders are becoming wealthy overnight.
On the spot, it was found that illegal dredger machines are being installed in the Bangshi River flowing beside Pukhuria Bazar of Pakutia Union.
Local residents, reluctant to disclose the name, said that this sand extraction and sale continues throughout the year. The local administration does not take any effective measures despite knowing everything. Due to dredging of the river, many lands and roads on the banks are constantly being damaged. In addition, there is widespread noise pollution due to the dredger machine running day and night, and unhygienic environment is being created due to dust on the roads of sand transport vehicles.
According to locals, Pakutia UP member Md Rafiqul, Pakutia Bazar trader Md Shahidul, Outpara village resident Md Muktar Hossain, Pukhuria village residents Md Rabiul Islam, Abul Kashem and many others are involved in the sand and soil dredging syndicate.
Pakutia Union Land Deputy Assistant Md Nazrul Islam said a syndicate is always active in extracting and selling sand and soil. When we go on a raid, they run away. It later resumed work again. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) has been informed to take necessary steps in this regard.
Mohammad Shamim Khan, general secretary of Pakutia union Awami League, said illegal dredgers are running at three ghats in Pukhuria, Manara and Baghutia. The syndicates came to know before the administration's raid here. A few days ago, the administration banned dredging with a red flag. But there is a business of selling sand again. This illegal business has survived under the umbrella of many influential people, including the current pro-BNP chairman of Pakutia UP. I am demanding necessary legal action to stop this syndicate on behalf of the locals.
Nagarpur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Deep Bhowmik said, our drive to stop illegal sand and soil trade is going on and will continue. I think the administration as well as the locals should be aware. This syndicate is very clever, they start doing the same thing again the next day after taking action in the operation. More effective steps will be taken in consultation with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) to find a permanent solution. This illegal syndicate will not be allowed to do business anywhere in the upazila.
ZH