DoE fines BWDB Tk 10.6 lakh

Department of Environment yesterday fined Bangladesh Water  Development Board (BWDB) Tk 10 lakh 60 thousand, for damaging Bakkhali River in Cox's Bazar by unplanned sand excavation.

 The fine was imposed after a hearing at DoE office in the port city. Eight other businesses including brick kilns were fined Tk 2.45 lakh for violating DoE clearance conditions there.

Nazim Hossen Sheikh, assistant director of DoE (region), told The Daily  Star BWDB hired a contracting firm to excavate from MM  Ghat area near the river.

He said BWDB did not take approval from  DoE and did not assess impact of the excavation, adding that BWDB also did not follow procedure to select a place to store excavated sand.

 "The firm excavated the river in  an unplanned way and left sand on a nearby arable land, damaging the  land and river," he added.