Coast Guard detained 7, seized dredger, bulkhead for illegal sand extraction in Bhola
Bhola Correspondent
Coast Guard personnel detained seven individuals along with a dredger and a bulkhead during a drive against illegal sand extraction in the Tetulia River under Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola district on Thursday.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said this in a press release on Friday morning.
Acting on a tip-off, an operational team from Coast Guard Base Bhola conducted a special raid in the Hasher Char area adjacent to the Tetulia River at around 10:00 AM on Thursday, catching the individuals while illegally mining sand from the riverbed.
Following the operation, an executive magistrate convened a mobile court on site, imposing a fine of Tk 1 lakh on the detained individuals, which was deposited directly into the state treasury. The individuals were subsequently released after providing written undertakings promising to cease illegal sand mining activities. The seized dredger and bulkhead remain in Coast Guard custody under official directives to execute a public auction within 15 working days and remit the proceeds to the government exchequer.
The Coast Guard will continue similar drives to safeguard agricultural lands and residential properties along riverbanks from illegal sand miners, the press release added.
