Sand lifting poses risk of Gorai river erosion
A syndicate of influential people has been illegally lifting sand from the Gorai river in Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari for the last three months, creating the threat of erosion.
Locals alleged that Firoj Ahad Khan of Garakhola village and his two partners, Shahab Ali Khan of Sonakandar village and Badsha Mondol of Narua village under Narua union, have been illegally lifting sand with dredgers from different spots in the union for several months.
On a recent visit to Narua, this correspondent saw a pile of sand beside Jangol-Baliakandi road at Sonakandar village on the bank of the Gorai river. There was a dredger and some pipes there, and tin shed for the labourers to live in.
“They have been lifting sand from here for some months. We cannot tell them anything because they are influential people, although we are facing a great threat of erosion,” said Abdul Ohab Mollah, a resident of Sonakandar village.
“Most of the time they lift sand during the dry season and also lift mud from the river. As a result, some farmers have lost their croplands,” said Shajahan Mondol, a farmer of the village. The sand lifters had left due to mobile court drives four months ago, but they returned after some days, he added.
“Croplands and homesteads and other structures are under threat of erosion due to sand lifting. But none can say it because of fear,” said Oawzad Ali, a resident of the village.
“We have a lot of land in that area. I bought sand for Tk 10 to Tk 12 lakh and kept it on 44 decimals of land. I have two partners, and Jahurul Islam, general secretary of Narua union Awami League, is working as our adviser,” Firoj said, adding that he had bought sand from legal leaseholders.
Jahurul said, “I have no involvement in this sand business. I never go to sand lifting places. I do not take any money from them.”
“A syndicate is illegally lifting sand from the riverbed, causing erosion. I shall take steps against it soon,” said HM Rakib Haider, upazila nirbahi officer of Baliakandi.
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