Shaistaganj/Habiganj/Representative/

The festival of illegal extraction of sand from Sutang river in Shaestaganj upazila of Habiganj district is going on. Later they are being smuggled to different places. Every day from early morning till late at night sand is lifted by dredger machine and smuggled in various vehicles including boats and tractors. On the one hand, the bridges are under threat, on the other hand, the government is losing millions of rupees in revenue. And this circle is led by Idu Mia of Paschim Nasharatpur village of Shaestaganj upazila.

According to local sources, a gang brought boats from Adampur, Lakhai, and Katakhali areas of Sadar upazila of Kishoreganj district and lifted sand from the sides of various crop lands in Sutang Bridge, Purasunda, and Joar Lalchand areas of Chunarughat upazila in Shaestaganj upazila. And this circle has been led by several people including the influential Idu Mia, Sahabuddin and Motalib. In return, he collected a fee of 1200 taka per boat. No sand-carrying boat is allowed to enter unless a subscription is paid to him.

It is known on the ground that some workers are loading sand from Madanpur area of Sutang river. Talking to them, it is known that they have come to take sand from Adampur area of Ashtagram upazila of Kishoreganj district. They took 150 feet of sand for each boat. He sold that sand for 6-7 thousand taka. On the other hand, while sand is being transported to different places with tractors, the roads are breaking and turning into ditches.

Locals said that they take thousands of feet of boatloads of kaira sand from here every day. Their Idgahs, graveyards are being destroyed. Even if requested, they don’t obey. Bridges have been provided for the movement of people from both sides. Excavation of sand from the base of the bridges has become dangerous. How will they move if broken? They are afraid of it.

I strongly demand the administration to stop this illegal sand smuggling. If not, communication with Sylhet and Habiganj may be cut off by breaking railway and highway bridges. About this

Shaistaganj upazila executive officer Najratun Naeem told CNBangladesh that action will be taken subject to investigation.