Two siblings continue sand lifting defying law
A gang, allegedly led by two siblings, has continued lifting sand illegally from the Ramnabad river in Kawer char area of Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila.
The accused are Enu Mridha and his brother Idris Mridha of the upazila.
Locals said with 10 to 12 dredgers, the duo continued illegal sand lifting from the river for the last one month.
But no one dares to protest against the illegal sand lifters --Enu and Idris--as they are the nephews of a local influential politician, alleged villagers.
The gang also set up pipes through the local reserve forest in Dhulashar area, said the villagers, adding that they felled some trees in Gangamati Reserve Forest area.
The gang continued the illegal act although local administration conducted drives there several times, said locals.
On January 3, a mobile court, led by Anup Kumar Das, assistant commissioner (land) in Kalapara upazila, raided the river area but the sand lifters managed to flee the scene.
Abdul Aziz, sub-assistant land officer in Mohipur union, later filed a case with Mohipur Police Station against 10 people, including the two siblings.
Although a case was filed, the accused continued illegal sand lifting from the river.
Md Sohel Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station, said proper steps will be taken in this regard after investigation.
They were also raiding different areas to arrest the accused, said the OC.
Lawful steps will be taken against the illegal sand lifters, said the assistant commissioner.
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