A group of land grabbers are illegally cutting and selling the government’s state property sand from Bangsai river under Pauli railway bridge in Kalihati upazila of Tangail. As a result of this illegal cutting of sand, the Elenga railway bridge, Pauli bridge and the city protection dam, built at a cost of crores of rupees, are under threat. Complaints of the victims of the locality are kept anonymous, but there is no solution even if they are reported to the administration. However, that community is cutting sand from under the bridge and selling it after pressing their complaint with the administration about this illegal sand cutting.
Going to the ground, it can be seen that the sand is being cut only in the darkness of the night by placing a veku on the banks of the Bangsai river flowing over the Pauli area of ​​Ward No. 9 of the municipality, avoiding the eyes of the administration. The cut sand is being transported by drum trucks. Due to transportation and cutting of drum trucks full of sand, the important Pauli railway bridge, bridge and city protection embankment are being damaged. Also, many farmers are deprived of growing crops on their land due to cutting of cropland to build roads to transport sand. Marginal farmers do not dare to protest as the sand mining cycle is so dominant. Apart from this, due to the reckless speed of the sand trucks, the locals are constantly suffering from accidents.
Due to sand trucks and unlicensed drum trucks, Pauli, Elenga and common people are suffering due to traffic jams.
Several people who did not wish to be named said that in the 9th ward of the municipality, for a long time, the local and Tangail town have been illegally cutting sand and selling it. No one in the area dares to protest against them. And if anyone protested, they were threatened with false charges and jailed. Also the roads of the area are getting damaged due to day and night traffic of sand trucks. It has become impossible to sleep at night due to the sound of trucks. The sand blown by the truck is flying into the house and ruining furniture and food items.
In this regard, the sand trader said that he is cutting and selling sand from the land he purchased and not from the river with the writ of the High Court. When asked about the permission, he said that he is doing this business by managing the local administration.
Regarding the illegal cutting of sand from under the railway bridge, the in-charge of the railway police said that I am not aware of the matter but I will take action today.
Kalihati Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Nahid Hossain told the journalist, I am not aware of the matter. You should inform UNO sir or DC sir.
On Sunday (April 9) regarding the illegal removal of sand from the river, Kalihati Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Nazmul Hussain said, we have conducted an operation two days ago, the soil is being cut from under the railway bridge.
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