A total fine of Tk 6 lakh has been imposed on dredger and tugboat owners for illegally extracting and transporting sand from the Tetulia River at in Bhola's Lalmohan upazila region.
On Sunday morning, the mobile court, led by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Mohammad Shah Aziz, conducted separate operations at the Tetulia River, and Lalmohan canal areas when the offenders were fined.
The individuals fined are Zakir from Badarpur Union, Habib from Charbhuta union, and Sohag from Ahmadpur union in Charfassion Upazila.
Confirming the incident, the UNO stated, "After receiving information about illegal sand extraction and transportation from the Tetulia River, we carried out a mobile court operation with the Coast Guard and police. During the operation, one dredger machine and two tugboats were seized. When the owners of these machines arrived at the scene, they were fined a total of 6 lakh Taka for violating the Sand Quarry and Soil Management Act of 2010."
He further mentioned that the owners of the dredger and tugboats gave an undertaking not to engage in illegal sand extraction and transportation in the future.
Following this assurance, the seized equipment was released. Shah Aziz also assured that such operations will continue under the Lalmohan Upazila administration.
