Mir Imran, Madaripur

Residents of the riverside area of Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur are fuming with anger over allegations of illegal sand extraction by installing dredgers in the Padma River. Alleging that an influential group has been extracting and selling sand indiscriminately for a long time, the locals have formed a human chain and held a protest rally in protest.

They have demanded that the administration take immediate and effective action to stop the illegal dredgers, warning of strict action, including surrounding the naval police outpost, if action is not taken within a few days.

The human chain and protest rally was held on Saturday (August 8) afternoon at the initiative of locals in the Bepari Bazar area of Charjanajat Union in Shibchar Upazila.

The speakers at the human chain alleged that sand has been illegally extracted by dredging the Padma River in the Kanthalbari, Charjanajat and Charchandra areas of Shibchar for a long time. They also alleged that this sand is later sold at various places.

Locals complain that the indiscriminate extraction of sand from the river has loosened the soil on the riverbanks, increasing the risk of erosion. In the meantime, cropland, residential areas, roads and various structures along the riverbanks are under threat. They fear that if illegal extraction of sand continues, widespread river erosion may occur in the future.

The speakers said that the Padma River is not anyone's private property. A group is destroying the river for their own interests, threatening the homes and agricultural lands of ordinary people. If the administration does not conduct a quick campaign to stop illegal dredgers, thousands of people living along the riverbank will be affected.

Giving a stern warning to the administration from the human chain, the speakers said that if the illegal dredging and sand mining in the Padma River are not stopped in the next few days, a larger movement program will be announced, including the siege of the naval police outpost. If necessary, local people will take to the streets to protect the river.

Krishak Dal's Central Communications Secretary Advocate Nasiruddin Bepari, Charjanajat Union BNP former president Shanto Bepari, teachers Mohammad Bachchu Bepari, Nur Alam Howlader, Kamal Bepari, Abu Bakkar Madbar, member Md. Motaleb Bepari and local residents were present at the human chain.

Local residents have sought the administration's intervention to immediately stop illegal sand mining in the Padma River. They have also demanded that urgent measures be taken to identify vulnerable areas to prevent river erosion.