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Illegal sand lifting from river bank rampant

50 bighas of fertile land go into Atrai at Manda

Published : Saturday, 9 March, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 139
Our Correspondent
MANDA, NAOGAON, Mar 8:  At least 50 bigha of fertile land have gone into the Atrai River in Manda Upazila of the district due to illegal sand lifting.

Lands along river banks are fertile. Wheat, maize, potato, mustard, sweet potato,  chilli, onion and other crops are cultivated on these lands for half time of a year.

Farmers said, they have complained to different offices concerned including upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and assistant commissioner (AC Land).

They arranged protest meeting, formed human chain and held other programmes. Despite that no action has been taken against the sand traders.

One youth Arif Hossain is lifting sand from Baibulla area in the downstream of the river. At the same time, sand lifting is going on in Khudiadanga Smashanghat, Elenga Sluicegate, Panjorbhanda, Fokinni River Bridge area and bridge adjacent Purbapara areas. The sand lifting is taking place in a festive manner.

Locals said, if the sand lifting continues this way, once there will remain no cultivable land along the river bank. The embankment of the Atrai River will be under erosion threat, and in the rainy season, over 100 families will be in risky condition.

A recent visit to Baibulla area found men of sand grabbers who were watering cultivable lands along the river bank. Soil is excavated from these lands by dredger machine and stockpiled on the bank. Later on, the soil is sold.

A Dwariapur Village dweller Harun Ur Rashid said, village people were attacked for several times for protesting the sand traders. Now locals don say anything in fear, he added.

Taking this as advantage, sand traders are carrying out their destructive sand lifting and sale in a free style, turning many farmers all lost, he added.

Farmer Abdul Bari Sonar of the same village said, already at least 50 bigha croplands including one mango garden and tree gardens have gone into the river bed. Despite complaining to the UNO and AC Land office and others concerned, there has been no action in this regard.

A sand trader, Arif Hossain, said, "I am lifting sand legally by taking lease. There has been no irregularity."

Upazila AC (Land) Zakir Munsi said, "I have been informed of the matter. If anybody lifts sand by cutting river bank, legal action will be taken against him."



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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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