Chilmari (Kurigram) Correspondent

The festival of illegal extraction of sand from Brahmaputra river is not stopping at Chilmari in Kurigram. The sand sale festival is going on from Fakirerhat area of Raniganj Union to Jamtala of Ramna Union by lifting sand from the Brahmaputra river by installing dredgers on the bulkhead.

A class of unscrupulous businessmen are continuing the sand business without paying attention to the words of the local people by showing their power under the nose of the administrationIn this, several educational institutions, various infrastructures, cultivated land and thousands of homesteads are under threat including the right bank protection project of the Brahmaputra river. The people of the area are suffering. Locals claim that at least 500 families have lost their homes due to unplanned and illegal dredgers breaking two chars last season. The concerned authorities are pretending not to see.

It is learnt that the right bank protection project of the Brahmaputra river in the area from the north of Raniganj Union under Chilmari Upazila of Kurigram to Bharatgram (Jamatla) of Ramna Union was completed a few years ago. In the meantime, block pitching collapses occurred several times in that area.

The Water Development Board repairs it on an urgent basisTo prevent river erosion and keep the right bank protection project intact, a ban has been imposed on sand extraction by placing dredgers in the area. Disregarding the ban, the influential people of the area are selling sand by dredger at more than half a hundred points from South Kharkaria Jamertal of Ramana Union to Kachkol Bazar of Raniganj Union to Fakirerhat. Without paying attention to the words of the local people, they have been making millions of rupees by selling sand and soil for a long time by installing dredgers illegally. Even though the local residents have banned sand extraction in that area, no work is being done. On the one hand, the right bank protection project and thousands of acres of cultivated land and human settlements are under threat.

On the other hand, the roads of the area, including the barricaded road built by the Water Development Board, are being destroyed by the wheels of sand-carrying vehicles. Even after seeing the sure loss of their area, the helpless residents are unable to open their mouths because of the fear of the powerful. Locals also said that threats are coming if you open your mouth and talk anywhere. Local residents claim that at least 500 families have lost their homes due to the collapse of two chars last season due to sand extraction by installing dredgers. Even though the illegal sale of sand has been going on for a long time, the authorities are playing a silent role for unknown reasons.

On the surface, on Friday afternoon, when I went to Raniganj Zakritari area, the block system on the right bank of the Brahmaputra river means how many inches, what is the problem of pitching, and the scene of sand being taken down from 3 bulkheads can be seenMore than half a hundred sand points can be seen from Kachkol Bazar to Fakirerhat area including 7-8 to Jamtala in Ramna Union. At this time, in front of 2 points in Kalirkura area, the road made to go to the sand point can be seen with the blocks placed to prevent the collapse of the right bank on an urgent basis.

At that time Dulal Mia, Zahir Ali, Dinesh Chandra, Abu Taleb, Zafar Ali, Feroz, Asad, Majnu, Afzal Hossain and many others from that area said that if char is created in the front lands, the risk of damage is reduced in our area.

Also, we get many benefits from the char created on the right bank. I getAt least 500 families have lost their homes due to illegal dredger sand extraction in the current season. Also we cannot live in road dust due to sand transportation all day. Starting from soccer till late at night, the roads and roads are getting damaged due to sand being taken by different types of transport.

Locals said that former UP Chairman Abdul Karim, Manju Haji, Liton, Mannan (Bachchu), Azahar Ali, Aizul Haque, Aslam member and many others are involved in this business.

Balu point businessman, former UP chairman Abdul Karim said, I have a share in Manju Hajir Point. I don't know more than that.

Chilmari Nau-Fadi Police Station OC Md Imtiaz Kabir said that we are trying to bring the illegal people who are extracting sand under the law with the help of upazila administration through limited manpower.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabuj Kumar Basak said, "Our campaign regarding sand extraction is ongoing.