12 dredgers destroyed as drive against illegal sand lifting continues

Police destroyed at least 12 diesel-run dredger machines, locally called boma machines used for extracting stones from river at Burimari village in Patgram upazila of the district on Monday.

They also opened four rounds of blank fire when the men of illegal stone lifters tried to attack the law enforcers during the drive.

Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Patgram Police Station, said a strong syndicate mostly comprising local political activists are involved in illegal stone lifting from the rivers in the upazila.

"If police continue conducting the drive, the syndicate men would not dare to go for illegal stone lifting from rivers Dharla, Shingimari and Saniyazan further," said farmer Ahmed Ali, 55, of Burimari village in the upazila.

Due to illegal stone extracting from the three rivers, a good numbers of agri lands were eroded and many farmers became landless in the area, said upazila agriculture officer Nurul Islam.

"Agriculture in the upazila is facing serious threat as rivers are drying up due to illegal stones lifting," he said.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Noor Qutubul Aalm said local administration also continued conducting drive against illegal stones lifting from rivers.

The police have zero tolerance in this regard, said Superintendent of Police TM Mozahidul Islam.