Illegal sand lifting from Kapotakkho goes unabated

A local Swechchhasebok League activist has allegedly continued lifting sand from the Kapotakkho river at Solemanpur village in Kotchandpur upazila of the district, posing erosion threat. 

The accused is Sohel Rana, an activist of Kotchandpur upazila unit Swechchhasebok League, and also a resident of Solemanpur in the upazila.

Locals said with a dredger, Sohel has continued illegal sand lifting from the river for the last few months. Sohel dug a pond beside the river where he set up the dredger. 

Vacuum in the riverbed, caused by the sand lifting, is posing threat to the nearby roads and homesteads, they said.

But nobody can stop the illegal sand lifter as he is locally very influential person having connection with a powerful politician, said the villagers.

During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found that sand lifting with a dredger continued.

If sand lifting from the river flowing through Moheshpur and Kotchandpur upazilas continues this way, large cracks may develop in the nearby areas, said Mizanur Rahman, a resident of Solemanpur village.

Not only Sohel but also a good number of local influential people have grabbed a large portion of the river, said Mizan, adding that those sand lifters also dug ponds there.

Contacted over cellphone, the Swechchhasebok League activist said the pond was not dug in the river area.

It is his own land where the dredger has been set up, he said.

Kotchandpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Naznin Sultan said they will take steps in this regard after investigation.