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Illegal sand trade endangers Faridpur embankment

UNB, Faridpur
Illegal sand extraction from the river Padma has made the Faridpur town protection embankment vulnerable, much to the worry of local residents.
A group of local influential people having political clout are lifting sand illegally from the mighty river near the town embankment at Baliadangi village in Dicrirchar union of Sadar upazila.
During a recent spot visit, the news agency found sand extracted from the river being loaded into trucks along a vast area on the west side of Dholar Mor up to Baliadangi.
Around 400 to 500 trucks heavily loaded with the extracted sand are plying the embankment every day making the infrastructure rickety.
The embankment constructed at a cost ofTk 194 crore is now on the way of getting largely damaged.
The residents are in fear that the embankment may collapse any moment.
Local sources said allegedly led by Dicrirchar union Jubo League President Mintu Fakir, local influential people, including Ayub Mollah, are lifting sand from the river point.
Villager Musa Sheikh said sand is being lifted from the river defying rules.
A sand trader of C&B Ghat area, requesting not to be named, said people including Mintu Fakir and Ayub Mollah sell sand worth Tk 1.5 lakh to Tk 2 lakh from the river every day.
Ayub Mollah said, "We are extracting sand from the river taking permis-
sion from the Water Development Board (WDB) and managing the local Awami League leaders.”
Jubo League leader Mintu Fakir claimed they were lifting sand from their land on the shoals that emerged in the river.
Executive Engineer of Faridpur WDB Shahidul Islam denied giving anyone permission to extract sand from the river.
He said they earlier conducted several drives but could not arrest any of the culprits as they remained off the scene seeing their presence.
Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur Sardar Sharafat Ali said he conducted mobile courts several times against the sand lifting.
He also assured of bringing the offenders to book whichever political party they belong to.