Some influential people in Rajshahi are lifting sand illegally from the River Padma under Bagha, Charghat and Godagary upazilas causing serious risk for river bank, damaging cultivable lands and river side structures of different institutions.
Thousands of acres of cultivable lands and houses on the riverbanks and schools, colleges and others government and non governmental offices are threatened by erosion because of the unabated sand lifting, according to locals.
The most affected areas are villages Bidirpur, Shekerchalk, Sultanganj, Keshobpur under Godagary upazila and villages Kishorpur, Bakulpur, Shimultala at Bagha and villages Mukterpur, Baktiarpur of Charghat.
The sand traders were doing the practice in collusion with some local political leaders and some dishonest officials in the local administration, the local people claimed.
The local people lodged complaint several times to the upazila nirbahi officers, the deputy commissioner and the local environment department officials.
Some dwellers of Charghat upazila said that some political leaders of ruling party were lifting sand causing threat to Rajshahi Cadet College, Bangladesh Police Academy Sardah and the Boarder Guard Bangladesh Charghat camp.
Hundreds of acres of fertile land of their area had become unfit for cultivation because of sand lifting, they added.
They said that they submitted memorandum two months ago to the secretary of home ministry, Rajshahi deputy commissioner, Rajshahi superintendent of police and Charghat upazila nirbahi officer to stop sand lifting.
The Charghat upazila nirbahi officer had served a notice at Mukterpur Balu Ghat banning all kinds of sand lifting but some influential people of that area were lifting sand violating the notice, the locals said.
When contacted, the Charghat upazila nirbahi officer, ANM Bazlur Rashid, told New Age that they had already filled a case against some sand lifters.
He also said that he had asked the policemen to take legal action against the accused.
According to the locals, the police men are yet to campaign any drive to nab the accused sand lifters because of political reason.
Denying the allegation, the Charghat Police Station officer-in-charge, told New Age that they were trying to arrest the accused.
Rajshahi acting deputy commissioner, Subol Bosh Mony, said that a trader could take lease of a piece of land for sand lifting. But his administration would not allow any illegal practice.
'Stern action will be taken if any trader is found lifting sand illegally,' he said.
Source: New Age
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