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Illegal sand lifting from Jamuna goes unabated

Sunday's clash between two groups leaves one dead, 15 injured

Our Correspondent, Tangail
Illegal sand lifting from the Jamuna River between Bhuapur upazila of Tangail and Sadar upazila of Sirajganj has continued unabated, causing river erosion in the nearby villages.
Even legal steps by local administrations and individuals have failed to stop the callous act as syndicates of sand lifters include several present and former public representatives and local activists of ruling Awami League (AL) and main opposition BNP, sources said.
On several occasions, the sand lifters got locked in clashes with lethal weapons over control of the illegal business worth crores of taka.
On Sunday, Nasir Uddin, 45, joint secretary of Sirajganj district unit of Sramik League, was killed and 15 others were injured in a fierce clash over illegal sand lifting between two groups at Borojoriar CharinSirajganjSadarupazila.
During recent visits to the area, this correspondent saw powerful dredgers engaged in sand lifting at Char Gabsara, Baintain, Madhur Bari, Kornogati, Boropiar, Banpiar and adjacent areas between Bhuapur and
Sirajganj Sadar upazilas.
The sand lifters' men, equipped with lethal weapons, often patrol the areas in big engine boats to make the illegal business safe, locals said.
Most of the lifted sand is unloaded at eight ghats (landing stations) in Bhuapur, within seven kilometres north from the east end of the Bangabandhu Bridge.
About 2000 houses and vast tracts of croplands in Bhuapur and Sirajganj Sadar upazilas went into the riverbed due to the erosion in the last several months.
Residents of local villages held different programmes in protest against the unplanned use of powerful dredgers for sand lifting that causes serious river erosion in the area.
Bhuapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Mohsin Uddin said, "In April and May, we filed three cases with Bhuapur police station against several sand lifters."
Asked about the matter, Haraz Ali, officer in charge (OC) of Bhuapur police station, said the cases were under investigation.
The law enforcers, however, could not arrest any of the accused in the cases.
Local sources said actually police could not do anything against the sand lifters as several top leaders of local AL, also involved with the sand business, are backing the accused.
Following a writ petition filed on May 3 by Belal Hossain of Char Gabsara village in Bhuapur upazila against the illegal sand lifting, a High Court Bench on June 4 issued a rule against the secretaries of land ministry and water resources department, director general of Bangladesh Water Development Board, director and deputy director (Administration and Estate) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority, deputy commissioners of Tangail and Sirajganj districts, UNOs of Bhuapur and Sirajganj Sadar, and DCs of Bhuapur, Sirajganj Sadar and Bangabandhu Bridge East and West police stations, asking them to give reply within two weeks.
When contacted, M Bazlul Karim Chowdhury, deputy commissioner (DC) of Tangail, said they have already given reply to the rule, mentioning the initiatives taken against the illegal sand lifting.
Sirajganj DC Aminul Islam, however, said he could not say anything about the matter without seeing the files.