Munshiganj (South) Correspondent

With the protection of speedboats, illegal sand extraction by dredgers and extortion continue in the Padma River at Louhajong, Munshiganj in the night.

A syndicate group has long been engaged in this illegal sand lifting in the Padma and has also been extorting large sums of money from various vessels and bulkheads plying the river. Those who refuse to pay face severe torture. Allegations have even surfaced that the same speedboat is being used to carry out river piracy in the Padma.

This information was disclosed on Monday at the monthly meeting of the Louhajong Upazila Law and Order Committee by Bikrampur Press Club President Md. Masood Khan.

In addition, it was reported that a specific extortionist group is illegally collecting tolls from bulkheads at the Dohuri-Taltola canal in exchange for allowing them entry. Shops in the Shimulia Ghat parking yard are also being forced to pay extortion money, the meeting revealed.

The meeting further discussed the recurring incidents of pedestrian deaths and injuries in accidents near the Padma Bridge toll plaza, adjacent to Padma North Police Station. A demand was made for the construction of a flyover at that location. Concerns were also raised regarding the recovery of firearms and the buying and selling of drugs in the Bede community of Goalimandra village. The meeting emphasized the urgent need for the installation of CCTV cameras in marketplaces across the upazila.

Chairing the meeting, Louhajong Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Nesar Uddin acknowledged that they have received reports of extortion activities in the Padma carried out with a speedboat. He instructed the River Police to take necessary action in this regard. He also firmly declared that no form of extortion or illegal sand extraction in the Padma would be tolerated.

Also present at the meeting were Louhajong Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Imran, Louhajong Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Md. Moniruzzaman, Padma Bridge North Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zakir Hossain, Bikrampur Press Club President Md. Masud Khan, General Secretary M. Tariqul Islam, journalists Mizanur Rahman Jhilu, Shawkat Hossain, Shahid Suruj, among others.