Coast Guard Seizes Two Dredgers and Two Bulkheads in Illegal Sand Extraction Drive in Barisal

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized two dredgers and two bulkheads during an operation against illegal sand extraction in the Kirtonkhola river in Barisal. Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon confirmed the information on Saturday (7 November) evening.

Sujon said a routine patrol by Coast Guard Station Barisal was under way at 8am on Saturday in the Kirtonkhola river near Charbaria, under Barisal Sadar police station. During the patrol, sand was found being extracted illegally from the river.

The patrol team reached the spot and seized the two bulkheads and two dredgers that were being used to lift sand from the river, the Coast Guard said.

The sand extractors fled after noticing the Coast Guard's presence, so no one could be arrested at the scene, the Coast Guard media officer said.

Later, the assistant commissioner (land) of Barisal Sadar conducted a mobile court. Through the mobile court, a fine of Tk 4 lakh was collected from the owners of the dredgers and bulkheads.

The fine money has been deposited in the state treasury. The seized dredgers and bulkheads were then released after taking bonds from their owners.

Sujon said the Bangladesh Coast Guard will continue such operations in the future to protect the farmland and homesteads of people living along the river from sand grabbers.