Sand lifting from Bongshai river on despite protests

Four dredgers lifting sand from Bongshai river at Jugir Kopha in Mirzapur upazila in Tangail district, accentuating erosion by the river. PHOTO: STAR

Several hundred houses and vast tracks of cropland in the villages have already disappeared into the river as indiscriminate lifting of sand from its bed increased erosion, locals said.

Sand is being lifted from the river at different points including Kodalia, Bobpara, Rashid Deohata and Jugir Kopha in Asgana and Gorai unions in the upazila, sources said.

This correspondent during a recent visit saw two dedgers in operation in the river in Jugir Kopha and Rashid Deohata areas.

Some erosion affected villagers who lost their croplands, said they submitted a written complaint to the upazila and the district administrations to stop the sand lifting, but to no effect.

Some influential people having political clout are lifting sand as a business. They are doing earth-filling work to develop nearby low lands.

The worst affected are Bandarmara, Kumarjani, Jugir Kopha, Rashid Deohata, Bobpara, Kodalia, Salimnagar villages, Hatubhanga Bazar, Bongshai High School compound and Asgana Union Parishad building.

Besides, about 15 kilometers of the dam from Hatubhangha to Patharghata Bazar is also threatened with erosion, locals said.

Protests by affected villagers triggered clashes with musclemen engaged by the sand lifters. Several people were injured in a clash Jugir Kopha village on July 13, a member of Asgana Union Parishad said seeking anonymity.

Vast tracks of cropland have gone into the river due to erosion triggered by the illegal sand lifting, he said.

When contacted, some sand lifters said they are lifting sand with permission from the authorities.

But officials at the office of Assistant Commissioner (Land) in Mirzapur said they did not give permission to any body to lift sand from Bongshai river by using dredgers.

Local lawmaker Ekabbar Hossain earlier told newsmen that he requested upazila officials to take steps to stop the illegal sand lifting.

Mirzapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahbubur Rahman told this correspondent yesterday that he gave permission for lifting sand from the river as it is treated as a balu mohal (an area from where sand is lifted).

He said the sand lifting will not cause any serious threat to villages and lands along the river. He also said that after complaints from villagers, he sent a team to the area, which also did not report any major debacle due to sand lifting.