Illegal sand extraction continues in Dudhkumar river, Sonahat Bridge at risk

An influential group is freely lifting and selling sand by illegally setting up dredger machines beside the Sonahat bridge, which is being built over the Dudhkumar river in Bhurungamari, Kurigram. The sand lifting has put the bridge under threat. The river bank protection embankment and crop land are also at great risk.

It is learned that a 130 year old rail bridge stands over the Dudhkumar river on the road to Sonahat land port in the upazila. The bridge is risky and past its life. So in 2019, the Roads and Highways Department started work on a new bridge to its south, 645.015 metres long, at a cost of Tk 136.33 crore. The sand sellers are putting the bridge at risk. They have set up three dredger machines close to the Water Development Board embankment on the bank of the river, and freely lift and sell sand.

An influential group led by Mr. Alam Hossain, brother of the Awami League president of Paikerchhara Union, UP Chairman Mr. Abdur Razzak Sarkar and Mr. Lebu Mia is lifting and selling this sand. Locals fear the river bank protection embankment may collapse in heavy rain.

Mr. Azizur Rahman, Mr. Rafiqul and Mr. Jalal, residents of Paikerchhara Union, said the Water Development Board built a bank protection embankment at the south western end of the Sonahat bridge. It laid blocks to stop erosion of the Dudhkumar river. But sand traders have set up three illegal dredgers right beside these blocks, on the western bank of the new bridge. They are lifting sand there. This can move the blocks of the Water Development Board out of place and damage the river bank protection embankment.

Not only the bridge and the embankment are at risk. The homesteads and crop land of people living on the bank are also at risk. But the sand lifting goes on without any care. Locals cannot protest openly, as they want to avoid trouble.

UP Chairman Mr. Abdur Razzak said one dredger is running to level the bottom of his own pond. Sand lifter Mr. Alam Hossain said his dredger has been closed for a few days. He said he will remove the dredger.

Bhurungamari Police Station OC Mr. Azim Uddin said stopping this is not the job of the police. He said if the administration wants, the police can give help. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mr. Amrito Deb Nath said the Assistant Commissioner (Land) has been told to take the needed steps in this matter.