Coast Guard seized two dredgers, two bulkheads over illegal sand extraction in Barishal
Barishal Bureau
Bangladesh Coast Guard seized two dredgers and two bulkheads on Saturday morning while conducting an anti-illegal sand extraction operation in the Kirtankhola River near Charbaria under Barishal Sadar Police Station.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said this in a press release on Saturday evening.
According to Coast Guard sources, a routine patrol team from the Coast Guard Station Barishal spotted the vessels extracting sand illegally from the Kirtankhola River around 8:00 am. Sensing the presence of the law enforcement team, the individuals involved in the illegal extraction fled the scene, leaving the vessels behind; consequently, no arrests were made during the drive.
Subsequently, an executive magistrate from the Barishal Sadar Upazila Land Office—the Assistant Commissioner (Land) conducted a mobile court at the site, levying a fine of Tk 4 lakh on the owners of the seized dredgers and bulkheads. The fined amount was deposited into the state treasury, and the seized vessels were later released after securing written undertakings from the owners.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard will continue its targeted drives against illegal sand miners to protect agricultural land and residential properties along riverbanks, the press release added.
