The unholy festival of soil and sand extraction of Brahmaputra River is going on in full swing at Ulipur upazila of Kurigram district. Some can be seen transporting sand with tractors and some are selling sand with the help of dredgers. Although the organized clique has been holding a sand-selling at the tip of the administration's nose for almost two months, the administration has not taken any action, which has raised questions about the role of the administration. As a result of the sale of sand, the locals are fearing that the houses of the surrounding houses will collapse in the rainy season.
It has been learned that Hatia Union is one of the eight river erosion affected unions in the upazila. Every year, thousands of people are displaced due to erosion of Brahmaputra River in this union. In Majhipara, Anantapur Ghat, Kumar Para of this union, the cycle is illegally selling soil and sand with tractors by constructing roads with bucks and sacks on the banks of Brahmaputra River.
According to the locals, the local leaders and activists of the ruling party are involved in this cycle.
It has been learned from the on-the-spot search that a few organized gangs are also selling the chars and soil on the banks of the Brahmaputra. Sand and soil are being sold freely with tractors in Majhipara, Anantapur Ghat and Kumar Para of Hatia Union. The unpaved roads in the area have been damaged due to the free movement of 120-130 tractors carrying soil and sand every day.
And with this sand extraction, some local influential are increasing the area of sand extraction at a rapid rate.
Meanwhile, a syndicate named Manik Rashedul, Jabial has been extracting sand for a long time by installing dredger machine in Gaburjan area of the union. This group has been selling sand and soil of the river for a long time but the administration has not taken any action. Children and the elderly in the area are having a hard time with the loud sound of dredger machine. No one is able to open his mouth for fear that the sand dunes are influential. Many also expressed inability to give their information.
Local residents on the banks of the river, who did not want to be named, said that the sand of the river on one side had cut the chars on the other side and sold the land. No one dares to say anything to them. Also some unscrupulous people are selling land to them at low prices. One by one I saw everyone selling land. If this continues, the surrounding houses will be washed away by the river during the monsoon season.
They also said that the roads have become impassable due to the day and night transport of soil and sand by tractors. Dry sand during dry season and weeping during rainy season.
Shariful Islam Sohail and Milon Mia, who are extracting sand, told reporters that sand is being extracted by managing everything. Since he came and saw it, he stopped it if he could.
Abdullah Al Mamun, Executive Engineer, Kurigram Water Development Board, said, "We are monitoring the situation round the clock. If there is any problem after this, immediate action will be taken.”
In this regard, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Bipul Kumar said, an operation will be launched soon through the mobile court with the police.