Mizbaul Haque, Chakaria (Cox’s Bazar) Correspondent: Three UP members have been accused of carelessly extracting sand from cropland with scavengers. 40-50 dumper trucks are illegally sanding from 3 points of Matamuhuri river daily without regard to agricultural land protection law. The members of UP have become more desperate after getting the revelation of Kakara UP Chairman. On the one hand, the amount of cultivated land is decreasing, on the other hand, it has an adverse effect on the environment and houses are threatened.
UP members are Nasir Uddin Nachu of Ward No. 7 of Kakara Union of Chakaria Upazila of Cox’s Bazar, Shafiqul Islam of Ward No. 8 and Abu Naeem Rumi of Ward No. 9.
Farmers Nurul Kabir, Makchud Ahmad, Noor Khan, Emranul Haque of Kamarpara, Ward No. 8 of Kakara Union of Chakaria Upazila said that the family has some agricultural land. We have been running a family for a long time doing agricultural work. In that land, I cultivated almonds, brinjal, pepper, felon, tomato and radish. But all of a sudden our agriculture land is not allowing us to take the crops home. A village is extracting sand before harvesting. Three UP members of the Kakara union digging a hole in the middle of the almond field. They don’t care about anyone.
They also said that they are not accepting any obstacles. Recklessly lifting sand. The surrounding land is collapsing due to deep digging and extraction of sand from the land. Every day more than half a hundred pickup vehicles are breaking down on the roads. Farmers are always in fear when someone’s land collapses and falls into the pit next to it. In this way, at least 30 farmers are occupying the cultivated land and extracting sand.
After investigation, it can be seen that Nasir Uddin Nasu of Ward No. 7 of Kakara Union of Chakaria Upazila, Shafiqul Islam of Ward No. 8, Abu Naeem Rumi of Ward No. 9 led by three other members have formed a syndicate. They are involved in sand extraction by digging deep into the land. At Kamarpara Point, Ward No. 8, Kakara Union, Matamuhuri River, around 30 farmers are freely picking sand with scavengers on their cultivated land.
Not only that, he is selling sand from the river bank in different places. As a result, all the crops cultivated by the helpless farmers are destroyed. Farmers are not able to bring home the money invested in cultivation. The land, houses and plants on both sides of the river are being damaged due to the excavation of sand by excavators. There is a risk of flooding in the river. As a result, the locals fear that the main map of Matamuhuri river will be breached during the monsoon season.
The local farmers gave a written complaint to the Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer, mentioning the names of 5 people including three UP members and sand traders. They have become more reckless by not taking any action even in the last two days of complaining. As a result, ordinary farmers are panicking.
Shafiqul Islam, a UP member of Ward No. 8, told The Crime, “We are not extracting sand from anyone’s land. Complaining to the upazila administration will not be of any use. Matamuhuri informed about the lifting of sand from the raised beds of the river.
Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer JP Dewan told The Crime that they have received reports of illegal extraction of sand at various points of the Matamuhuri River. Some local farmers have also given written complaints.
He also said, we are conducting an operation. Many have been jailed and fined. I am looking into the issue of extracting sand from the farmer’s crop land. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) has been directed to take action. He said that our operation is continuing.
