Various areas of Gangachra Upazila in Rangpur have now turned into illigal sand lifting zones. The banks of the rivers are now occupied by the influential who are hoarding sand there. An influential syndicate is illegally extracting millions of Tk worth of sand from Teesta and Ghaghat Rivers every day. These sands are being used for filling canals and under-construction structures in different parts of the district.
As the sand extraction continues, the nature of the river is getting damaged. Public and private structures including riverside bridges are under threat. The government is also losing huge amount of revenue due to illegal sand trade. Although the campaign to stop such act continues in this regard, sand extraction is not stopped. Last Sunday, raids were conducted at two points of Alambiditar Union on charges of illegally extracting and selling sand from Ghaghat River. Meanwhile, the dredger machine and pipe used for sand extraction were destroyed. A case has been registered as the accused is absconding.
Recently, two brothers were sentenced to six months' imprisonment without work for illegally extracting and selling sand. Besides, two trolleys used to transport excavated sand have been seized. Expressing relief in this incident, the local conscious people have demanded that the illegal sand trade should be stopped by officially building sandbanks in the Teesta river. If this is possible, the revenue from riverine sand extraction will double.
Due to lack of monitoring, sand machines have been installed at various points of the river by unscrupulous sand traders. Some are again lifting sand from the dry banks with spades and shovels. Besides, canal digging is going on in several places in the name of fisheries project. Soil and sand are extracted from there and sold in different places. In Mahipur area of Lottery Union, about 100 meters away from Sheikh Hasina Gangachara Bridge, sand is being extracted from the river by placing sand machines. Shallow machine owner Bhuttu Mia said, "Sand is being taken for the work of the mosque. It will not be sold. I have been extracting sand from here for about three months, no one has said anything. Bhuttu claims that he is extracting sand with permission from the Upazila administration. However, the locals said that Bhuttu Mia is a sand trader. He has been mining sand openly for a long time. They claim that under the Mahipur Teesta Bridge in the Teesta river area, sand is being extracted in Gannarpar, Dhamur Bollarpar, South Kolkond Singimari, South Kolkond Grayen Dam, South Kolkond Babupara, Paikan Bangpara, Paikan Pirpara, North Chilakhal, East Ichli and Madhya Ichli. Mentioning that 40 to 50 people are involved in this illegal sand mining, they said that most of them are doing this illegal business from the public representatives and political umbrella by managing the local administration in various ways.
Yachin Ali alias Yachin Makra of Chengdoba area of Kolkond union was extracting sand illegally from Teesta dam in that area for a long time and carrying it in his trolley and selling it to two sons. The roads in the area were being damaged due to the daily movement of sand trolleys. People of the area got angry and informed the Upazila administration. In view of this, recently Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Nayan Kumar Saha on behalf of the Upazila administration conducted a raid in Chengdoba area and arrested two trolleys containing sand of Yashin Makrar and his two sons Kamal Mia and Jamal Mia while illegally extracting sand and taking it to the trolley for sale. Later the two brothers were sentenced to six months without labor by the mobile court.
In this context, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ershad Uddin said that Hamidul Islam of Paikan Doctorpara village was fined Tk 50,000 for operating a mobile court before this. He also said that the campaign to stop illegal sand extraction is continuing.