River shape changing, bridge threatened

Illegal sand lifting from the Meghna river bed at Ashuganj ghat goes unabated. The photo was taken recently. PHOTO: STAR

The Shahbajpur Titas Bridge will be threatened if this continues, local people said.

The government is also deprived of a huge amount of revenue from sand lifters.

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A vast chunk of land and some homesteads have already eroded into the Meghna at Charlapang village in Nabinagar Upazila, local people said.

West Nabinagar Union Parishad Chairman Md Culam Kibria said he has appealed to authorities for relief for the victims.

The illegal work is going on in collaboration with a section of corrupt officials, it was gathered.

Unscrupulous sand traders are lifting sand from the Meghna near Ashugonj, Kederkhola and Daskandi and from the Titas near West Uzanishar, Islampur, Budhumti, Shabbazpur, Rajabariakandi, Gukarna Ghat and Chandura areas.

The traders claim that they obtained permission from "higher authorities", but the district administration, when contacted, said sand lifting is banned except from six selected spots in the district. These are Lohor Nadi Balumahal, Dharkhar Mauja Titas Nadi Balumahal, Chinai Nadi Balumahal, Haura Nadi Balumahal, Bijoy Nadi Balumahal and Bijani Nadi Balunmahal. None of these spots has been leased to any trader, they said.

But sand is being lifted from dry riverbeds indiscriminately all along the riverbeds.

During a visit to the area on Tuesday, several hundred labourers, engaged by groups of traders, were seen lifting sand from Titas riverbed in Islampur, Chandutra, Rajabariakandi and Shahbajpur.

They were digging the riverbed up to 100 metres or above at places without considering the impact of banks. Local people said this will cause a massive erosion in Shahbajpur, Rajabaria Kandi, Budhumti, Islampur and Chandura areas in Sarail and Brahmanbaria Sadar upazilas in the coming rainy season.

The illegal sand lifting is not new. The unscrupulous traders play cat and mouse with the administration and law enforcers. They 'manage' a section of policemen and continue the illegal work, the local people alleged.

In Ashganj, the illegal work is going on in Shahbajpur and Gupan Ghat areas.

Talking to this correspondent, villagers Sadekur Rahman and Ashraful Karim alleged that they complained to the administration, but to no effect.

Big boats were seen carrying sand lifted from Ashugari Meghan Ghat, Shalgong Ghat, Kalishima Glral, Titas Ghat and Kurulia.

Mahbub Hossain, manager of Ruma Al Farook Dredger, said they were lifting sand with permission from the authorities. He said the sand lifting was not cause any harm to the river bank.

But Brahmanbaria Water Development Board Sub-divisional Engineer Md Kazem Ali said they have no plan to dredge the rivers in Brahmanbaria. He said he does not know who allowed the traders to lift sand.

Sources at Deputy Commissioner's office said they received several complaints form villagers about illegal sand lifting and asked the upazila administrations to stop it.

Police Superintendent ATM Tareque said police, on information, had gone to several spots but the sand lifters showed permission from higher authorities.

While contacted, Deputy Commissioner Md Jahirul Haque said step have been taken to stop illegal sand lifting. Immediate action will be taken if any complaint of illegal sand lifting is received, he said.