Trader fined for illegal earth extraction from river bank

A mobile court on Sunday fined a trader for illegal earth extraction on the bank of the Bangshai river in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail.

Originating from the Old Brahmaputra river in Jamalpur, the Bangshai flows through several upazilas in Tangail and falls into the Dhaleswari river in Dhaka.

Earth trader Alamgir Mridha of Gorail village under Bhatgram union of Mirzapur continued extracting earth illegally on the river bank with excavators for sale, posing threat of serious erosion in the area.

Being informed by locals, Executive Magistrate Md Mainul Haque, also assistant commissioner (Land) in Mirzapur, conducted a mobile court drive in the area and caught Alamgir red-handed while the latter was lifting earth from the river bank.

“The earth trader (Alamgir) was fined Tk 50,000 for defying the Balu Mohal O Mati Byabosthapona Ain, 2010 (Sand Fields and Soil Management Act, 2010),” the magistrate told this correspondent yesterday. 

The earth trader was also warned of tougher punishment if he tries to commit the same crime again, he said.

Drives will continue to prevent illegal sand lifting on the river, added the magistrate.