Unabated sand lifting from the Jamuna is going on in Dhunot upazila of the district.
Defying the law and order situation, a section of unscrupulous people have been lifting sands from the river causing threat to dwelling houses and arable lands condemn eyewitness.
They are extracting sands through sinking pipes into the bed of the river with dredgers from the area for long. But, the local administration is not creating heed to the heinous matter at all, locals alleged.
Locals said a number of influential people are involved in such illegal work from many days to perform their intention. Good number loaded trolleys of sand are being sold everyday from region.
Per trolley sand is being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 800 while Tk 1,600 to Tk 2,000 for a mini truck in the upazila. To take the sand from the upazila, the customers are making gathering everyday.
If lifting of sand cannot be stopped soon, a vast tract of cultivable land and houses may be threatened by river erosion, resulting in massive loss of properties.
Hasan Ahmmed, a resident of the area, said he lost his house and 20 decimals of cultivable land owing to river erosion last year caused by sand lifting from Jamuna River.
The victim people of the upazila said, due to frequent river erosion some poor and marginal people had to shift their houses to the safe place from the area. Many people are passing days in apprehension, they added.
UNO Razia Sultana said local administration has stopped sand lifting from the river driving frequent mobile court. But some dishonest sand traders have started such illegal act again. Necessary measures will be taken against the culprits soon, she added.
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