Moynul Haque Mridha, Rajbari

After the fall of the Awami League government through the anti-discrimination student movement, the law and order situation in the country has come to a standstill.

On this occasion, sand extraction festival is going on from Padma river near Habaspur Kheya Ghat, Pangsha Upazila of Rajbari. Due to this, various structures including houses and crop lands are under threat. Locals are asking the administration to take action against illegal sand mining.

On the surface, it can be seen that sand is being piled at 7 places beside the Habaspur Charpara embankment of the upazila. The sand is being cut from the middle of the Padma with a dredger and brought to the bank of the river through the bulkhead. Due to this, the houses and crop lands along the river bank are under threat.

It is known that the ex-chairman of Habaspur Union and influential leader of BNP, Latif Khar, is leading this sand extraction. And 20/30 people including Zia Mandal, Lebu Kha and Majnu take care of this illegal work. Zia, Lebu and Majnu take boats in the river. The rest are safe next to the embankment next to the sandbanks.

Many local people on condition of anonymity claim that since the fall of the Awami League government, the BNP people have been extracting these sands. Our houses and crop lands are suffering massive damage due to their piles of sand. None of them dare to say anything.

All are armed terrorists. Almost everyone has multiple murder, extortion cases in their name. Not only sand extraction they are now collecting fees from different people. Why is no one complaining? They said, if you complain, there will be more problems, no police or army will come. Now the force has become his.

Speaking to BNP leader and former chairman of Habaspur Union Latif Khar, he claimed that they are cutting sand legally. After August 5, one of his relatives brought the side of sand extraction from the ministry. Why are the cameras taken away and threatened when journalists go there to take pictures? He says why are you going there. We have not been able to do anything for 16 years.

Nuruzzaman, Army Warrant Officer of Pangsha temporary camp, said on the phone, "We have called Latif Kha to the camp and asked him to stop sand mining. He admitted to us that he will no longer lift sand. However, action will be taken if sand is still extracted.

Pangsha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Zafar Sadiq Chowdhury said that there is no Balu Mahal in Pangsha Upazila. Those who are extracting sand from Habaspur Padma river are extracting illegally. I have asked the army to take action to stop illegal sand extraction.