Everyone’s doing it
Bagerhat has become a safe haven for illegal sand miners, as they have been wreaking havoc in different areas of the district, polluting the environment and creating public nuisance.
Locally made dredger machines are used day and night to lift sand.
On Saturday afternoon, two dredgers were seen extracting underground sand from the canal adjacent to the road at Barabasbaria area in Dema union of Bagerhat Sadar upazila.
The first one, mining sand from a canal at Abdul Rasulpur village, belonged to Ripon Kumar Mosid, a member of Dema Union Parishad's ward-8.
The second dredger, belonging to one Palash, was placed in a canal at Barabasbaria.
Locals alleged that Dema Union Awami League president Sheikh Jahangir Hossain is involved with sand lifting.
Not only in Dema, but this activity is going on in 75 unions and three municipalities of Bagerhat.
Seeking anonymity, dredger owners have alleged that part of the money received from sales has to be paid to the local public representatives.
Contacted, Ripon Kumar said, "Everyone does it. Why is it only my fault? I immediately stopped lifting sand when the upazila nirbahi officer sir gave a warning."
"There is little profit in this business anyway," he lamented.
Dema Union AL President Sheikh said he is mining sand to fill a field of a local school to facilitate students' activities.
"I'll stop the machine when the field is full," he added.
Dilip Kumar Dutta, professor of environmental science at Khulna University, said the biggest damage caused by underground sand lifting is the loss of natural topography. This results in permanent adverse effects on an area.
According to Section 5's Sub-section 1 of Sand and Soil Management Act, 2010, no underground sand or soil can be extracted by pumping or dredging or any other means. According to Section 4 (b), sand extraction is prohibited within one kilometre of bridges, culverts, dams, roads, highways, railway lines and other important public and private structures or residential areas. Violators are punishable with two years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of Tk 10 lakh or both. However, in most cases, no application of these laws are seen.
Contacted, Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Azizur Rahman said that they regularly conduct drives against sand extractors.
"Actions against illegal sand extractors will continue as per existing laws."
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