Md. Abdul Qayyum, Moulvibazar.

A mobile court has sentenced a local UP member and his son to a fine of Tk 50,000 and fined them for illegally extracting sand from the Manundi River in the Chatlapur area of Sharifpur Union, bordering Kulaura Upazila in Moulvibazar.

On Monday afternoon, a mobile court conducted a drive against illegal sand extraction, storage and transportation at various places along the Manu River in Chatlapur area of Sharifpur union in Kulaura upazila.

According to sources from the Kulaura Upazila administration, the local upazila administration, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Pranoy Biswas, conducted a three-and-a-half-hour drive against those involved in illegal sand extraction, storage and transportation from 11 am to 2:30 pm on Monday.

During the operation, Sharifpur Union Parishad member Lal Mia and his son were fined Tk 50,000 for illegally extracting and storing sand in their house under the Sand Mahal and Soil Management Act, 2010.

In addition, Md. Masum Mia was sentenced to 7 days' rigorous imprisonment under Section 188 of the Penal Code, 1860, for illegally transporting sand.

During the operation, the sand previously seized, as well as the newly seized sand, was placed in the custody of the local union council chairman.

The upazila administration said that necessary measures will be taken to auction the seized sand as soon as possible in accordance with the rules.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Pranoy Biswas said that such mobile court campaigns will continue regularly to protect the environment and rivers and prevent illegal sand mining.

Meanwhile, not only in Kulaura Upazila, but in the entire district, illegal sand miners are becoming more and more reckless day by day. Especially, there are complaints of illegal sand mining in the Monundi River of Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila and the Dhalai River of Kamalganj Upazila. In addition, there are reports of illegal sand mining on a large scale in various places in Srimangal Upazila. Although the Upazila administration occasionally takes action against these illegal sand mining, it is not possible to curb it.