Sand lifting from Teesta threatens road, railway

Some influential people are illegally lifting sand from the Teesta riverbed at Parulia village in Hatibandha upazila under the district, posing threat to the nearby highway and railway, both connecting Lalmonirhat town and Burimari land port. 

Local people alleged that six to seven local activists of ruling Awami League (AL) have been doing the sand trade there for the last few months but the local administration is not taking any step.

Even the influential people have removed stone boulders of the protection embankment to construct a road for movement of sand carrying trucks, said Mansur Ali, a local trader. 

If the gang continues the sand lifting from riverbed, the highway and railway routes will face erosion in the coming rainy season, he said. 

"Some identified Awami League men threatened us as we tried to stand against the illegal sand lifting from the river," said Hazrat Ali, another local.

At least 150 truckloads of sand is lifted from the Teesta River daily and each truck of sand is sold for Tk 1000 to 1100, said several daily wage basis labourers seeking anonymity. 

Shafiar Rahman, chairman of local Patikapara union parishad, said he has already informed the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Hatibandha about illegal sand lifting from the Teesta.

The erosion protection embankment at Parulia village is under the threat of collapse due to illegal sand lifting from the Teesta River, said Shibendu Dastagir, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board.

Expressing concern over the illegal sand lifting from the river beside the highway,  Suruz Miah, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat Roads and Highways Department said the local administration is expected to take necessary step in this regard.

Hatibandha UNO Mahbubur Rahman said stern action will be taken against illegal sand lifters from the Teetsa River at Parulia village soon.