Khorshed Alam, Sherpur

Sand looting festival is going on from the Someshwari and Maharashi rivers, as well as canals, rivers, and springs in Jhenaigati, Sherpur.

Local sand bandits have been looting sand freely by cutting canals, rivers, river banks, and hills, disregarding the sand extraction policy. It is learnt that in 1432 Bengali, two sand pits on the Maharashi and Someshwari rivers of the upazila were leased.

Although the district administration has given permission to extract sand in the specified area for a period of one year, the people of the lessee have been looting sand from the areas outside the lease for a long time since 1 Baishakh. Since the people of the lessee are influential, no one, starting from the local administration, dares to speak out about their sand looting. If anyone protests, there are various allegations and intimidation against them. Due to this, during the Awami League government, Awami League leaders and their associates have been looting sand for a long time, but no one has dared to speak out against them.

Since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year, the leaseholders have been recklessly looting sand by canceling the shares of Awami League leaders and workers and taking BNP leaders and workers as shareholders. Although sand mining is permitted only in 7 acres of Tawakocha Mouza of Someshwari River, sand miners have been looting sand from hundreds of acres of areas outside the lease, including Kharamura, Balijuri, Rangajan, Jokakura, Aynapur, Dupriya, Bagervita, and the Maharshi River outside the lease, including Shalchura, Sandhakura, and Gomra. Not only that, new sand pits have emerged in various places including Karnajhora River, Kalghosh River in Bankakura area, Jharna, Khalbil River and social forests of the forest department and hills. Sand grabbers are freely looting sand worth crores of taka from these areas every day by destroying the social forests of the forest department.

The hills and river banks have been damaged by the clutches of sand pirates. On-site investigation showed that illegal sand is being piled up in front of the Girls High School in the Upazila Sadar, in front of the Sadar Health Complex, in various markets including Shalchura, Khailkura, Dakabor, Rangtia, in villages and on the side of the roads in the neighborhoods and neighborhoods. Due to the reckless extraction of sand by illegally installing hundreds of dredger machines, the social forests of the forest department, the Balijuri Bridge, houses, and educational institutions are under threat. Due to the supply of sand by trucks, Mahindras, trolleys and other heavy vehicles day and night, the roads have become impassable. The balance of the environment is under threat.

The government is being deprived of crores of taka in revenue. To stop illegal sand looting, the upazila administration has conducted mobile courts at various times. Punishments have also been given for illegally mining sand. Sand mining machines have been vandalized. Fines have been imposed. But sand looting is not stopping. There are allegations that the administration is facing the onslaught of sand grabbers while conducting mobile courts to stop sand looting. As a result, the administration is struggling to conduct operations to stop sand looting. Sand looting is not stopping. Currently, sand worth crores of taka is being looted and sold in different parts of the country every day.

The issue of sand extraction from the non-lease area was discussed with Samim Ahmed, the lessee of Tawakocha Balu Mahal on Someshwari River. He said that the dredger machine owners did not listen to them. They refused to take responsibility for this.

Asaduzzaman Swapan, the lessee of Balu Mahal on Maharashi River, said that none of his people were involved in sand extraction in the non-lease area. Finally, on January 16, the upazila administration stopped sand extraction from the Someshwari River due to violation of the lease policy of Balu Mahal. The toll collection house of Balu Mahal was locked. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Aninda Rani Bhowmik said that a show-cause notice has been given to the lessee for violating the sand extraction policy of Balu Mahal.

Confirming the truth of the incident, UNO Ashraful Alam Russell has conducted mobile court operations at various times to stop illegal sand looting. Punishment has also been given for illegal sand looting. Sand extraction machines have been vandalized.

Fines have been imposed. He also said that sand extraction in Balu Mahal of Someshwari River has been stopped due to sand extraction from areas outside the lease. Further action is under process.