Rajshahi city protection embankment is facing a threat of erosion due to the excavation of sand from unauthorised areas of the river Padma.
According to sources, Messers Amin Traders, a leasee of sand, was continuing excavation of sand from unauthosed area inside the river Padma by defying a ban imposed by Rajshahi district administration.
The areas from sand being excavated are also very close to Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) and the Rajshahi University. Both the institutions are also facing the threat of erosion due to the illegal excavation of sand from the river.
Meanwhile, people of the locality have expressed their anger at the continuation of excavation of sand from unauthorised areas of the river despite a ban imposed from the administration following directive from the High Court. The mentioned due to excavation of sand from unauthorised areas, two groups of the locality were now standing face to face and there would occur a clash among the group members.
Sources mentioned, Azizul Alam Bentu, Proprietor of Messers Amin Traders, was engaged in excavation of sand from unauthorised areas of Talaimari under the river Padma from a long time.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC-revenue) of Rajshahi Abu Aslam in a letter directed Azizul Alam Bentu, proprietor of Messers Amin Traders, to stop excavation of sand and to take action against him if he does not withdraw excavation of sand from unauthorised areas.
The letter mentioned that 120 acres of sand-dunes under Char Khidirpur and Char Syampur mouza have been leased to Azizul Alam Bentu by demarking the areas with red flags on April 14 in 2019 but he was continuing excavation of sand from outside the lease areas.
As a result, he is being requested in accordance with the verdict of a writ petition number-5107/2019 dated 13-05-2019 of the High Court to stop excavation of sand from unauthorised areas. Otherwise, legal action including cancellation of the lease will be taken against him.
But, even after 10-day of serving the letter, the illegal excavation of sand is continuing. Local people have demanded to stop immediately to excavate sand from unauthorised areas and thus to save Rajshahi city protection embankment and to save Rajshahi University and the RUET from being eroded.