Moynul Haque Mridha, Rajbari

The soil trading sync has become reckless by installing illegal dredging at Goalando in Rajbari. Sometimes fined in the mobile court, but again managed everything and started cutting the soil again.

Concerned parties feel that it is not possible to arrest the gang with a small fine. Strict legal action should be taken against them.

On Saturday on the spot it is seen in Uzanchar Union of Upazila, three dredger machines are taking sand from the river within a kilometer to the right of the new bridge. Dredges are placed in the river and soil workers are digging day and night. The land owners are trying to stop it but they are not paying attention. It is alleged that they are showing fear in various ways.

Under the supervision of the local Lipu member of Ujanchar union, digging soil for the construction of a public road under Kabikha project. It has the permission of the administration.

Ismail Hossain and Manowar Hossain Mana in Mara Padma claim that they are lifting the soil in coordination with the land owners. But there is no permission from the administration.

Similarly, at Laltu, Daulatdia Canal Ghat, Kader Fakir, Zia, Shaheed at Debagram Peer Ali junction, soil traders are digging rivers and ponds and using dredgers and veku machines to lift soil and sand. Excavated sand-soil is sold to various brick kilns and private institutions and earns lakhs of taka.

Moreover, these trucks carrying soil and sand are running at reckless speed on the rural roads, causing loss of life often.

It is learnt that according to subsection 1 of Section 5 of Balumhal and Soil Management Act-2010, underground sand or soil cannot be extracted by pump or dredging or any other means. According to clause-4 (b), the government has banned sand mining in bridges, culverts, dams, barrages, embankment roads, highways, forests, railway lines and other public and private structures or within at least 1 km from residential areas.

Goalando Upazila Nirbahi Officer Joti Bikash Chandra said that no one has been allowed to extract soil and sand from the river for any government or private work. Two such dredger machines have already been destroyed by mobile courts. The driver of the veque and drum truck has been fined. Such operations will continue.