Sand lifting from Jamuna triggers erosion

Syndicates of local influential people have been illegally extracting sand from the Jamuna river at several places in Bhuanpur upazila for long, prompting erosion threat to the riverside villages.

The ill practice, which is going on at different villages under Govindasi and Gabsara unions, is also destroying the local environment and eco-diversity.

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Local people said a syndicate comprising a number of local public representatives and their men is lifting sand from the river in Rampur area under Govindasi union.

On the other hand, another group comprising an influential traders' leader and brother of a local public representative is involved with illegal sand extraction from different points, including Jagatpura and Rulipara under Gabsara union, they said.

The situation got worsened recently after local administration leased out two sand quarries at Jagatpura in Gabsara union.

Now the cleaver sand traders are lifting sand saying they were increasing the depth of the river with dredgers to make ways to the sand ghats, locals alleged.

They syndicate, however, pilling up the extracted sand on the bank of the river for sale, they said, adding that the heinous act is prompting erosion at different villages on either side of the river. 

Several syndicates of sand traders have been lifting sand from the river illegally and prompting erosion at a number of riverside villages under four unions -- Govindasi, Nikrail, Arjuna and Gabsara -- rights activist Al Amin said.

Several thousand dwellings, many educational and religious institutions, other establishments and vast croplands have already gone to the river due to erosion by the Jamuna, villagers said, adding that they do not dare to resist the ill practice as the sand traders, having political clout, are backed by powerful quarters.

Although upazila administration conducts mobile court drives against the offenders and punishes people caught from the spot, the main culprits always remain out of reach and gets back into the business within few days, locals alleged.

Moreover, the syndicates' men often lock in fierce clashes to take control of the brisk business and also change the sand lifting points frequently to avoid administrative action, they added. +

Tangail Water Development Board (WDB) Executive Engineer Sazzad Hossain said sand extraction from the river with dredger machines is not only causing erosion along the riverbank, also destroying local environment.

Local administrations should monitor this matter as they are the authorities concerned, he added.  Contacted, Bhuanpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ishrat Jahan confirmed about the two leased out sand quarries and said she also heard about the illegal sand business at different points along the riverbanks.