Illegal sand trade poses threat to Titas bridge
At a time when the government is conducting drives against river encroachment, an influential sand trader is not only constricting flow of the Titas river in Banchharampur upazila by occupying its bank, but also endangering Sheikh Hasina Titas Setu over the river.
Ignoring the risk posed to the Tk 94-crore bridge that the prime minister herself inaugurated last year, the sand trader, Saidul Islam, has taken up several bridge piers that he is using to make an enclosure where he stockpiles sand for sale.
Moreover, the sand stockpiled in the enclosure is being lifted from the river right below the bridge -- another violation of the law.
Sheikh Hasina Titas Setu, the first Y-shaped bridge in the country, connects three upazilas -- Banchharampur in Brahmanbaria and Muradnagar and Homna in Cumilla. The eye-pleasing structure, 771.20 metres in length, has become a popular site to visit among locals and is an alternative route option for travellers going to Chittagong from Dhaka and vice versa.
Such an asset of the country is under threat, but the authorities concerned seem to be indifferent to their duties, alleged many locals.
Saidul has been conducting sand trade for a year in a similar fashion by occupying the bank of the Titas in Charlohania area under Fardabad union of the same upazila as well, they also said.
While visiting the bridge, this correspondent found a wide area below the bridge, alongside the bridge piers on the south side of the river, filled with sand, while a large number of heavy vehicles including trucks were being loaded with sand.
Workers there said the sand business belongs to Saidul Islam of Charlohania village.
Requesting not to be named, a school teacher from Charlohania village said, “We see activity of hundreds of trucks and power tillers beside the piers every day. Although selling and lifting of sand from the river near the bridge are prohibited, no one came forward to put a stop to the illegal business.”
Boatman Solaiman Mia said the sand enclosure has choked the river’s flow below the bridge, causing hindrance to two-way movement of river vessels.
Accidents between vessels are quite frequent in the area since the business sprung up there, he added.
When reached for his comment, Saidul Islam claimed that he pays rent to conduct his sand trade below the bridge. “Not just me, many others in the area are occupying land below the bridge as well as the river bank,” he said.
Engineer Jahangir Hossain of Local Government Engineering Department in Banchharampur upazila said he was not aware of any sand trade next to the bridge. “If that’s the case, I will take action.”
Nafisa Naz Neera, assistant commissioner (land) in the upazila, said she asked land officer in Fardabad union to find out about the allegations of encroachment on the Titas river.
Necessary action would be taken once the allegations of encroachment are found to be true, she added.
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