Sand extraction raises erosion risk in Sylhet, Chandpur

Unabated sand lifting from the Piain and Meghna riverbeds in Sylhet and Chandpur raised erosion risk for inhabitants who fear losing their homes and farmlands in erosion and demanded an immediate halt to the illegal extractions.

Our Correspondent from Sylhet reports, influential groups are behind the sand lifting from the Piain River at Hajipur Uttar and Dakshin Pratappur of Gowainghat Upazila's Pashchim Jaflong Union and neighbouring Ambari in Gowainghat Sadar Union.

Locals assumed daily extractions in these areas, including during the nights, would amount to two million cubic feet of sand, which is worth Tk 10 million.

In Pashchim Jaflong Union, locals demanded immediate steps to halt the extraction ongoing for two months using dredgers. Over a hundred of these boats have been operating every day with armed people guarding the sites.

Locals -- wishing to remain anonymous -- alleged that the sand lifting influential groups have members among local representatives and are also being aided by law enforcers.

A number of locals alleged Faruk Ahmed, a Union Parishad member, and his group are behind the illegal sand lifting at Jaflong Union.

However, denying the allegations, Faruk said, "Sand lifting has been ongoing, but I have no connection with such activities. They are blaming me just out of enmity. I often stay at Sylhet city. You can check things on the spot."

The villagers alleged that houses of their homesteads and vegetable fields were eroded as a result of the sand extractions and they are often harassed for lodging complaints.

Similarly, about 10 to 15 dredgers have been lifting sand for over two weeks in Ambari beyond the government's lease area, increasing the risk of erosion for locals.

Sadar Union Chairman Gulam Rabbany Sumon said, "Social steps to stop sand lifting by dredgers failed." He added that local representatives at an emergency meeting of the Union Parishad opposed sand lifting and also sent written decision to the Upazila Parishad for steps against the looters.

Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ratan Kumar Adhikari said, "As the site is not leased for sand collection, it has stopped by now and we have been conducting regular drives against the sand and stone lifting."

Our Chandpur Correspondent reports, sand traders' indiscriminate extraction operation using dredgers at Meghna River in the Matlab Uttar upazila left the Meghna-Dhonagoda dam vulnerable at several points.

The 64-km-long dam along the villages of 14 unions of Matlab Uttar Upazila and a few villages of Matlab Dakshin Upazila keeps homesteads, livestock, crops, and farmed fishes safe from flash flood for 700,000 people.

During a visit, this correspondent observed that sand is being extracted using dredgers at Doshani, Shatnol, Nasirakandi, Borochar and adjacent areas along the dam, which may collapse at these points any time triggering flash floods in the villages.

Talking to the FE, two locals said that due to the "mindless" sand extraction for a long time by a section of sand traders led by Kibria Majhi, the dam has been threatened at several points. They added that thousands of people are in serious fear about possible erosion.

They also alleged that the sand traders seem to be connected with the local administration as none is stopping the traders during the illegal extractions.

Shamim Khan, director of an environmental organisation "Mati O Manush" said the river, its fishes, as well as the dam have been equally threatened due to the sand extraction defying government ban.

Mohanpur River Police Station OC Mohammad Ali said, "We are active so that none can extract sand from the Meghna River. We know that some sand traders have been allowed by the govt to lift sand in Munshiganj district area."

In the last few years, more than one person were killed and many sustained injuries in Matlab Uttar's Mohanpur in clashes over the lifting of sand. Murder cases have been ongoing at the courts in connection with these incidents.

Matlab Uttar UNO Mahmuda Kulsum Moni said, "We are conducting regular mobile courts against illegal sand lifting in the Meghna in Matlab Uttar area."

Stating that the sand lifting situation has been brought to the district administration's attention, Chandpur DC Mohammad Mohoshin Uddin said, "River police force and coastguards are deployed on the spots. We will start joint drives soon to stop illegal sand extraction by sand traders' dredgers in the Meghna River in Matlab Uttar Upazila. None would be spared in this regard."

He added that if the dam is breached at any point due to illegal sand extraction, many people's lives and properties will be seriously affected.

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