Illegal sand lifting from Teesta bed unabated

Illegal sand lifting from the beds of Teesta, Dharla, Ratnai and Saniyazan rivers continues unabated at 50 points in five upazilas of the district as the local administration is not taking any legal action against the lifters.

Moslem Uddin, 55, of Teesta river basin Dakkhin Sindurna village in Hatibandha upazila said around 80 truckloads of sand are lifted from Teesta river bed every day, and it has been going on from morning to evening for the last two months. “We strongly protested against illegal sand lifting from the river bed, but the lifters did not listen to us,” he said, adding that the upazila administration did not take any action to stop illegal sand lifting.

“Our main road is getting damaged as sand-laden trucks move on it from morning to evening every day,” said Nur Islam, 48, of the village.

Truck driver Ashraf Ali, 38, said he gets Tk 400 for carrying one truck of sand and he can make 20 trips from morning to evening every day. “One truck of sand is sold for Tk 800,” he said.

“A local sand lifters' syndicate has been lifting sand from Dharla river bed with shallow-run dredgers every day for the last four months. They even do it during the night,” said Shahidul Islam, 42, of Badaitari village in Sadar upazila. “We complained several times to the upazila administration but no action has been taken yet,” he added.

Alleged sand lifter Sahed Ali, 48, of the village, refused to talk with journalists in this regard.

District Sub Divisional Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) Mohammad Al-Mamun told this correspondent that it is good to remove sand from the river bed, but it should be done in a planned way. The sand lifters lift sand in a way that creates deep holes in the river bed.

“Such holes cause erosion during the rainy season,” he said, adding that WDB officials have sent letters several times to the local administration, requesting them to take legal action against the lifters

Deputy Commissioner Shafiul Arif said the administration will take stern action against illegal sand lifting immediately, and the administration will always be active against this malpractice.