Illegal sand lifting goes unabated in Netrokona

Illegal sand extraction continues along two rivers in Bangladesh’s Netrokona district, despite a ban, court directives and repeated administrative drives. Extraction from the Mahadeo River in Kalmakanda and the Someshwari River in Durgapur has scarred riverbanks and disrupted the natural ecosystem.

A politically backed group allegedly removes sand from multiple points, carries it by engine boat and stores it on the banks. Auto-rickshaws, vans and trucks then transport it to other areas around the clock. Residents say the activity is changing the rivers’ natural courses, damaging the ecosystem and increasing the risk of erosion. The noise from boats and vehicles is also disturbing people living along the banks.

Anisur Rahman Khan Pathan Babul, chairman of Rangchhati Union Parishad, said influential local figures and expelled ruling-party leaders were involved in extraction from the Mahadeo. He alleged that police took no visible action even when sand-laden boats passed the Bishorpasha Police Outpost. Sub-Inspector Jahangir Alam, who heads the outpost, denied seeing such boats operating there and said officials had acted whenever they were spotted.

Auto-rickshaw driver Shafiqul Islam said sand was regularly extracted from 10 to 15 points of the Someshwari. He said he paid Tk 1,000 per trip and sold the sand to depots for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000. Local resident Rozina Begum said her family collected sand in sacks because few alternative jobs were available.

Netrokona Additional Deputy Commissioner Sukhmoy Sarker said leasing of the district’s sand quarries had been suspended since March 13, 2024, following High Court directives in a case filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association. He said all extraction was illegal and punishable. Local administrators said regular mobile-court drives had reduced the activity. In one recent operation, 39 sand-laden boats were seized and one person was jailed.

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There were very few alternative employment opportunities in the area, prompting all members of her family to collect sand from the river in sacks and later sell it to auto-rickshaw drivers.