Illegal Sand Lifting From Laghata
Threat to agriculture
Locals blame ruling AL leaders
Illegal lifting of sand from Laghata River in Kamalganj upazila of the district has been posing a threat to the riverside people and agriculture.
Due to lifting of sand, large areas of cultivable land on both sides of the river have become barren and infertile, said Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), Sylhet chapter.
Marginal farmers in the upazila are unable to cultivate crops by using the water from the Laghata River, he added
When this correspondent visited the area on August 27, he found a huge quantity of sand being lifted from the river. A lot of water is also being wasted during the process.
A sand worker seeking anonymity said Towfiq Ahmed, chairman of Potonushar Union Parishad (UP) and Abul Bashar, general secretary of the Potonushar Union unit of Jubo League, are lifting sand from the river.
Every day, 10/12 trucks carrying sand are posing a threat to a section of the road from Jugibeel area, said local farmers Ahad Mia, Delwar Mia and Burhan Mia. Locals dare not protest the sand lifting activities as the lifter is an influential local elite, they added.
Each truckload of sand is sold at Tk 700 to Tk 1,000, sources said.
Upazila AL General Secretary Rafiqur Rahman said they could not repair the Potonushar union main road due to shortage of sand, so he asked Abul Bashar to lift some sand for the work.
Abul Bashar said, “I don't know about this matter. The sand workers gave you wrong information.”
Towfiq Ahmed said, “I am not involved in sand lifting, but I know some villagers are lifting sand.”
Mohammad Mahmudul Haque, upazila nirbahi officer of Kamalganj, said “We conducted mobile court drives and fined several sand lifters. We will take immediate steps to stop illegal sand lifting."