Illegal sand extraction in Kirtankhola: two dredgers and two bulkheads seized

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized two dredgers and two bulkheads while sand was being extracted illegally from the Kirtankhola river in Barishal. A mobile court later fined the owners of the dredgers and bulkheads four lakh taka.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, media officer at the Coast Guard headquarters, confirmed the information on Saturday (7 November) evening.

The Coast Guard said a team from Coast Guard Station Barishal was on a routine patrol in the Kirtankhola river near Charbaria, under Sadar police station, at around 8 a.m. on Saturday. The dredgers and bulkheads were seized red-handed while sand was being lifted illegally.

However, the Coast Guard said no one could be arrested, as the sand lifters fled quickly after sensing the presence of the Coast Guard.

The assistant commissioner (land) of Barishal Sadar upazila later conducted a mobile court at the scene. Four lakh taka in fines was collected from the owners of the dredgers and bulkheads and deposited in the state treasury.

The dredgers and bulkheads were released after taking an undertaking from the owners that they would never again lift sand illegally.

Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said such operations by the Bangladesh Coast Guard would continue in future to protect the farmland and homesteads of people living along the river from sand lifters.