Illegal sand lifting from Monu under the nose of officials

Sand is being lifted illegally from Monu riverbed near the area where Water Development Board is renovating the Moulvibazar town protection embankment. PHOTO: STAR

The riverbed is being dredged near the spot where the Water Development Board (WDB) is implementing a Tk 2.5 crore project to renovate the town protection embankment. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

But officials of WDB and the district administration, when asked by this correspondent, expressed their ignorance about the illegal dredging.

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Sources said an influential person enjoying political backing is lifting the sand to fill up his land in the town.

They said the town protection embankment will become vulnerable in the coming monsoon due to the sand lifting.

The temporary pipeline for carrying sand from the riverbed has been laid by digging the town protection embankment and two main roads in the town and making a hole in the flood protection RCC wall. The RCC wall will be threatened in the monsoon, the sources said.

Talking to this correspondent, some locals expressed their surprise that the dredging continued on the nose of WDB officials, who visited the spot to see the ongoing embankment renovation work.

When contacted, WDB Executive Engineer Abu Zafar Siddik first said he knew nothing about the illegal sand lifting and would visit the spot.

Next day, when asked again, he said he went to the spot but could not locate the dredger.

This correspondent then described the location of the dredging machine in operation in the river behind the old hospital. Then he said he will visit the area and take necessary steps.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Ayatullah Majumdar, when contacted over telephone, also said he knew nothing about the illegal sand lifting. He said district administration did give permission to any body to lift sand from Monu riverbed near the town.

He said he will look into the matter and take steps.

Moulvibazar Pourasava Chairman Fayzul Karim Moyun said the municipality did not give permission to any body to lay a pipe for sand lifting by cutting road in the town.