Coast Guard seized two dredgers, 3 bulkheads during anti-illegal sand extraction drive in Barishal
Barishal Bureau
In a joint operation, Bangladesh Coast Guard personnel and the local land administration seized two dredgers and three bulkheads while they were being illegally used to extract sand from the Arial Khan River in Barishal, officials said on Wednesday.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said this in a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team comprising Coast Guard Station Barishal and the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Barishal Sadar conducted an extensive drive along the Arial Khan River near Sayestabad under Barishal Sadar Police Station from 1:00 AM to 5:30 PM on Tuesday. The team seized three bulkheads and two dredgers on the spot. However, the individuals involved in the illegal sand extraction managed to flee upon sensing the presence of law enforcers.
Subsequently, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Barishal Sadar conducted a mobile court at the scene, imposing a fine of Tk 5.5 lakh on the owners of the seized dredgers and bulkheads. The fine was deposited directly into the state treasury, and the vessels were released after securing written undertakings from the owners.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard will maintain similar operations in the future to protect riverside communities, agricultural lands, and residential areas from illegal sand mining, the press release added.
