Posted on October 23, 2024
- 18 dredgers operating day and night
- Residents along the riverbank are living in fear of potential river erosion
Despite a High Court ban, illegal sand extraction is ongoing in Machlandpur of the Gorai River in Kamarkhali, Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur, with 18 dredgers operating day and night.
Md Akidul Munshi, the lessee of the Rajdharpur sand quarry in Magura district, has long been involved in extracting sand illegally from the Machlandpur sand quarry in Faridpur’s section of the Gorai River, blatantly defying the law.
On October 1, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Erfanur Rahman of Madhukhali upazila conducted an operation, temporarily halting sand extraction.
However, just two days later, dredging resumed. Residents along the riverbank are living in fear of potential river erosion caused by the unplanned and illegal extraction.
There is a serious risk that agricultural land, homes, and paved roads could be submerged during the monsoon season due to this unchecked sand mining.
Moreover, extracting sand from the Gorai River without a proper lease means the government is losing revenue.
The road leading to Bir Shrestha Munsi Abdur Rauf’s house in Salamatpur village, near Machlandpur sand quarry, was damaged earlier due to sand mining. In response, the authorities issued a ban on mining in the area.
However, sand miners, allegedly in collaboration with various influential groups, continue their activities.
On-site observations reveal that 18 dredger machines have been set up on the Gorai River, lifting sand worth Tk5 to Tk6 lakh daily. Among those involved in this illegal operation are Akidul Munshi and Syed Amir Ali.
This year, Akidul Munshi secured the lease for the Rajdharpur sand quarry in Magura for Tk2.55 crore. He has been extracting sand illegally from both Rajdharpur and Machlandpur sand quarries.
When contacted, Akidul Munshi claimed he was officially extracting sand from Rajdharpur in Magura and denied any wrongdoing.
“There is a boundary issue. I am raising sand from my borders. The administration sometimes conducts raids because they demand money from us. When we don’t pay, they raid,” he said.
Munshi added that he broke a syndicate to secure the lease for Tk2.55 crore this year and had invested nearly Tk5 crore.
“If we don’t extract sand worth Tk7 lakh daily, we will not recover the lease money,” he added.
Efforts to contact Syed Amir Ali for comment were unsuccessful.
Investigations show that several villages along the riverbank, including Gandakhali, Dayrampur, and Goeshpur, are at risk of significant damage due to the sand extraction.
In 2019, former Kamarkhali union Chairman Zahidur Rahman Babu filed a petition in the High Court seeking a ban on sand extraction from the Machlandpur sand quarry, which led to the court imposing the current ban.
Attempts to reach Madukhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mamnoon Rashid were unsuccessful.
However, when contacted, Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Hasan Mollah said the local administration had taken action against illegal sand extraction previously and would take further steps soon.
“Action will be taken against the illegal sand miners,” he assured.
