Illegal Sand Extraction in Brahmaputra River Continues Unabated, Complaint Lodged with Prime Minister Office.

Omar Faruk Khan Jony, Hossainpur (Kishoreganj) Correspondent. Illegal sand extraction and sale from the Old Brahmaputra River in Hossainpur of Kishoreganj continues. According to locals, sand selling cannot be stopped even after conducting mobile courts. This has raised fears of damage to riverbanks, agricultural land, homesteads and public property. Written applications have been submitted to the Prime Minister's Office and various concerned departments seeking necessary action. On September 30, the application was made on behalf of Saheber Char Hajibari area of Hossainpur Upazila by former Upazila Parishad Chairman and Upazila BNP Convener Zahirul Islam Mobin. The application states that a syndicate has been illegally extracting and selling sand for a long time from the other side of the Old Brahmaputra River opposite Saheber Char Hajibari area. As the river bank is being cut during sand extraction, the natural environment of the river and the stability of the bank are being destroyed. The application further states that as a result, agricultural land, homesteads, roads and other property of common people on the riverbank are being damaged. Unplanned sand extraction is making the riverbed and banks deeper and weaker. As a result, river erosion is accelerating and local farmers may lose their cultivable land and main source of livelihood as well as be at risk of losing their homesteads. On behalf of the locals, the application demands on-site investigation and inspection on an urgent basis, suspension of sand extraction, sale and transportation until legal approval and validity are verified, and legal action against the dredgers, vessels and other machinery used. It also demands that the damage caused to agricultural land, cropland, homesteads and public property by cutting the river bank be assessed through on-site investigation and remedial measures be taken. Permanent and effective measures have been sought so that no one can illegally extract sand from the river in future and damage the agricultural land, homesteads and public property of the area. Copies of the application have been sent to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Inspector General of Police, Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, Deputy Commissioner of Kishoreganj, Superintendent of Police, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Hossainpur, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Officer-in-Charge of Hossainpur Police Station and various other concerned departments. Several members of the conscious circle of Saheber Char area, on condition of anonymity, said that as people of the ruling party are involved in sand extraction, the administration is unable to take effective action against the syndicate. They allege that fertile cropland of many farmers is being forcibly cut and taken away by paying a nominal price. Hossainpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Reksona Khatun said, "Last Thursday, one Bahar Uddin was detained and fined Tk. 1.5 lakh. As the area is remote and under Pagla Police Station of Mymensingh, many flee in advance after getting news of mobile court operations." Reksona Khatun also said that very soon tender will be floated and lease will be called.