Three dredgers were seized by Sarankhola upazila administration in Bagerhat in the last one week on charges of illegal sand extraction.
Two of the dredgers were fined a total amount of Tk 1 lakh, while the other was decided to be auctioned. Moreover, legal action will be taken against the owners.
Sarankhola Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate Sudipto Kumar Singh confirmed the matter.
According to the upazila administration, acting on complaints from locals, Sarankhola UNO Sudipto Kumar Singh conducted a drive in Malia village on Saturday afternoon.
During the drive, a dredger was seized while illegally extracting sand from the Malia canal. The owners of the dredger, Shah Jamal Hawladar and Mizan Hawladar, managed to escape. The seized dredger was placed under the custody of the local village police.
Besides, a drive was conducted against the illegal extraction of sand from a small canal in the Amragachia area of Khontakata Union in the upazila on the afternoon of November 10.
During the drive, the driver and an assistant of one dredger were detained, while the crew of the other dredger managed to flee. However, one individual whose land was being filled with the illegally extracted sand was detained.
Subsequently, under the Balumhal and Soil Management Act, 2010, the mobile court fined each dredger owner Tk 50,000.
UNO Sudipto Kumar Singh said the seized dredger used for illegal sand extraction will be auctioned, and legal action will be taken against its owner.
Such drives will continue, he added.
