Mashahid Ahmed:
A group of thieves has been illegally extracting sand from the Dhalai River near Jasmatpur village in Kamalganj upazila. The group threatened the villagers by demanding a stop to the illegal extraction of sand to protect their homes and agricultural land from river erosion. In protest, people from 3 villages formed a human chain and protest rally. Around 500 people from Jasmatpur, Dakshin Dharmapur, Pathartila and Kalachhara villages participated in the human chain and protest rally in the West Jasmatpur area of Rahimpur union of the upazila at around 10 am on February 18 (Tuesday). Under the chairmanship of social worker Ayub Ali and moderated by Nazrul Islam, businessmen Kamal Mia, Abdur Rouf, Azad Mia, Nasir Mia, Amir Ali, Tahir Mia, Jewel Mia, Hridoy Mia and others spoke. The speakers in the human chain said, “People of influential lessees have been illegally extracting sand from the riverbed by installing dredging machines in Jasmatpur Mouza for a long time. As a result, the markets, several educational institutions, crop lands and houses along the riverbank are about to disappear into the riverbed. If sand extraction is not stopped soon, there is a risk of the river protection dam breaking in the next monsoon and causing major damage. Despite multiple complaints to various departments regarding these issues, no remedy has been found. Nazrul Islam, a student of Moulvibazar Government College, said, “Due to illegal extraction of sand from the Dhalai River, there is a risk of the river protection dam, crop lands and houses disappearing into the Dhalai River. He complained, “Shiblu Khan, Rocky, Sueb Mia and Ismail Miagong of this area are extracting sand from here. They are threatening us in various ways and will run over us and kill us with their cars. We are suffering from security concerns. It has been alleged that Rahimpur Union No. 1 BNP President Sipar Ahmed Tarafdar, Rahimpur Union Jubo Dal President Oliur Rahman Joynu Chowdhury and Shiplu Khan are involved in extracting sand illegally.
Regarding the allegations of illegal extraction of sand, businessmen Sueb Mia and Ismail Mia said, “All the statements they have made about us are false. We are not involved in sand and have not threatened anyone.” Kamalganj Upazila Executive Officer Makhon Chandra Sutradhar said, “Illegal extraction of sand has been stopped. 3 sand extraction dredger machines have been seized. No one is claiming ownership of the dredger machines for fear of arrest and fines.” He also said that necessary action is being taken against those who extract sand illegally.
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