Ignoring the administration ban, land grabbers are cutting soil from agricultural land in Sarail.

Taslima Khandaker (Nusrat), Sarail B.Baria. In Azabpur village of Chunta Union, Sarail Upazila, Brahmanbaria, where repeated attempts are being made with government-funded geo-bags to prevent river erosion, a group of land grabbers are running amok in defiance of administrative orders. Flouting government laws, large steel boats (cargo) are being used to illegally cut and remove soil day and night from agricultural land and riverbank areas. According to local sources, work to place geo-bags with government allocation is ongoing to protect the village and agricultural land from river erosion. However, indiscriminate soil cutting in the same area every day is making the river erosion situation even more severe. The massive waves created while the large, soil-laden steel boats ply the river have caused new erosion in local houses and agricultural land. As a result, acres of farmland are being destroyed, and people living along the riverbank are spending their days in intense fear. Affected farmers said, "Because of the influence and fear of the land grabbers, we do not dare to speak out publicly. Our last resort, the farmland, is being wiped out before our eyes." Through journalists, the farmers have called for prompt and strict intervention by the administration to stop this destruction. It is learned that although miking was done to stop soil cutting in the area on the orders of the Sarail Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), the land grabbers are paying no heed to that ban. They have continued their activities even after the miking. Meanwhile, a reliable confidential source said that this land grabber syndicate had recently submitted an application to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) for permission to cut soil. They are now using that application as a pretext to carry out this illegal work right under the administration's nose. The helpless residents of Azabpur and the distressed farmers have strongly demanded urgent and strict operations by the Sarail Upazila administration and local police station, along with permanent and effective measures to protect agricultural land.