Posted on January 5, 2026
Mahbubur Rahman Tipu, Dohar (Dhaka) – Once again, sand is being extracted by installing 8 to 10 dredger machines along the Padma River protection embankment, from Meghula Ghat of Narisha Union to the Narisha Dak-Banglo area in Dohar upazila of Dhaka. The dredgers are cutting through the riverbed and extracting sand continuously.
On Thursday afternoon, dredger machines were seen extracting sand from the river near the Meghula riverbank area of Narisha Union, beside the Ganga Temple, adjacent to the Padma protection embankment, at the Dak-Banglo intersection area, and near the Narisha Dhopa Bari ghat. Many locals alleged that due to unplanned dredging right beside the embankment at night, the left-bank Padma protection embankment and nearby residents are living in fear. Locals informed the reporter that no one dares to protest as influential people are involved in this dredger business.
Several local residents, wishing to remain anonymous, said that during the daytime sand is unloaded from bulkheads, but at night cutters are directly installed into the river to extract sand by tearing through the riverbed. Influential people assist in this work. As a result, locals claim that the administration pretends not to see the activities despite being aware of them.
On-site at the Meghula fish ghat area, it was observed that two dredger machines had been installed right next to the left-bank Padma protection embankment, extracting sand through long pipelines. It was also seen that safety blocks beside the embankment were removed, and holes were made to install dredger pipes, causing many stone blocks to be displaced. During sand extraction and supply from sand-filled bulkheads using dredger machines, a large amount of water is required. To meet this need, water is drawn from beside the embankment, creating strong water currents. As a result, the sand and stone blocks used in the under-construction embankment are being displaced, causing damage to the Padma protection embankment.
It is learnt that to protect the people of Dohar from Padma River erosion, during the tenure of then Dhaka-1 (Dohar–Nawabganj) constituency MP Salman F Rahman, elected without votes during the Sheikh Hasina government, the Padma protection embankment was constructed under the supervision of the Water Development Board with the army at a cost of around two thousand crore taka. On Tuesday and Wednesday, influential dishonest sand traders were seen extracting sand by installing dredgers right beside that embankment.
Dohar Upazila Matsajibi Dal President Md. Ramzan Hossain said, many influential people have become millionaires by extracting sand by tearing through the Padma River. Taking advantage of this opportunity, dishonest sand traders are damaging the Padma protection embankment through sand extraction.
Heroic freedom fighter Ibrahim Khalil Sabuj, President of the Dohar–Nawabganj Unit of Pitchway Human Rights Society, said that sand extraction from the Padma River in Dohar had been going on even two years ago and is still continuing. Ranipur village of Narisha Union used to be another 3–4 kilometers away. Due to unplanned sand extraction by tearing through the Padma Riverbed, within just a few years several villages of Narisha and Sutarpara unions have been swallowed by river erosion. Many people have become destitute, losing ancestral homesteads and cultivable land, and have left the area. Due to political criminalization, the administration could not function properly. Now it has started again. He questioned where it would end.
Upazila administration sources further stated that there are clear instructions that no one is allowed to extract, load, or unload sand in the Padma River area of Dohar. If anyone extracts sand, the police and naval administration have been instructed to take legal action. Despite this, illegal sand extraction business continues unhindered.
When speaking to dredger owner Binda, he said, “We are not cutting sand. We are unloading sand from bulkheads using dredgers. I am not alone; several influential leaders of Dohar upazila are also involved with me.”
Dohar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tasfik Sibgat Ullah said that no one is allowed to extract, load, or unload sand in the Padma River area of Dohar. If anyone is found extracting sand, legal action will be taken.
UNO Md. Maidul Islam said, there are instructions to stop all types of sand extraction. He added that investigations will be conducted and operations will be carried out regarding sand extraction.
