Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environment Lawers' Association (BELA) and Lawyer of Supreme Court Syeda Rizwana Hasan visited the illegal sand excavation site over Mahadeo river at Kamlakanda of Netrakona district. She visited the site on last Thursday in response to the appeal of the executives and members of Mahadeo river protection committee.
According to sources, some 10 kilometre (35.15 acres) of sand dunes on the river near Sannasipara village has been leased out to a local party but, the lease holders were excavating sand and pebbles (stones) from outside of the leasing areas as well through nearly 50 dredgers.
As a result, local hill people are in a risk of losing their land properties and houses eroding inside the river. In protest against such illegal excavation of sand and stones from out of leasing areas, hill-people of surrounding villages appealed to the BELA for inspecting the illegal excavation site and to stop illegal excavation.
As per request from the residents of the area, BELA Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan visited on 4 November the villages Omargaon, Hasanoagaon, Bishauti, Sannyasipara, Chikontup mouzas and Patlaban, Kandapara, Boruakona, Dakaiyapara. She was attended, among others, by former Vice-President of Netrakone district Press Club Adv A Hannan Ranjan, Secy of Press Club M Mukhlesur Rahman Khan, Head of Prog of BELA Khorshed Alam, Chairman of Abdur Rahman Foundation journalist Delwar Khan, BELA Coordinator Sayema Afroz, BELA Tangail div coordinator Goutam Chandra Chanda, Luer Nong Min, Sujon Mrong, Prodat Nang Ura, Adv Dinesh Daru, Biplob Ghra, Antim Jambil, Hazrat, Rony, Aziz, Pien Nong Min, Alfons Nong Min, Bimol kubi, Suresh Nong Min, Babul Nafak, Peterson Kubi Peter, Super Dikhar and Sadhu Poul Nong Min.
People in the area informed that nearly 60 t0 70 feet deep cavern is being created on the river bed due to illegal excavation of sand and stones from non-leased areas and both sides of the river are being eroded and nearby villages with crop land, houses, trees and orchards are being devoured into the river.
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The indigenous hill people are also facing an acute shortage of water. Due to excavation of sand and stones with dredgers round the clock, the sound pollution in the area has taken a serious turn. As a result, students of the surrounding villages could not attend to their studies and people are even failing to sleep at night.
Also, the sand laden lorries have also damaged their only road and the family and social security of the locality is being hampered badly due to visit of the outsiders, labourers in the tribal villages. The Moahdeo river is also being devastated due to such illegal sand and stone excavation.
Later, Chief Executive of BELA Syeda Rizwana Hasan and President of Mohadeo Nadi Raskha Cimmittee Luer Nong Min submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Netrakona demanding cancellation of lease of sand excavation agreement from Omragaon, Hasanoagaon and Bishuti areas of the Mohadeo river.
In accordance with the particulars of the memorandum, Netrakona Deputy Commissioner Kazi Abdur Rahman assured them to take legal action against the illegal sand excavators.
